Why Small Moments Matter

Last up, we hear from our very own Policy and Research Manager, Dr Kellie Payne on the research and evidence behind our campaign. How can small moments of connection make such a big difference? Read on to find out.

Surely to tackle loneliness you must have strong connections with important people in your life? Why are you encouraging us to invest in moments of connection with strangers?

The facts behind the figures

Well, there is some strong evidence that if you focus on those moments of connection with strangers or acquaintances, known as ‘weak ties’, that this can improve your sense of wellbeing and belonging, which in turn can help you to be in a better frame of mind for making those deeper more long-lasting connections.

“Small moments matter, and can make a big difference to our wellbeing and feelings of belonging.”

A typical day provides many opportunities for interactions with people outside our close social circle, including strangers—relationships involving less frequent contact, low emotional intensity, and limited intimacy, such as the ones with acquaintances.

Some of the original research into weak ties comes from a researcher Granovetter (1977), who showed that weak ties are important for diffusion of information, such as news, innovations, and job openings, across a social network. Without weak ties to bridge the gap, information remains trapped within small groups of friends.

Chatty commuting

Researchers at the University of Chicago (Epley and Schroeder, 2014) showed that rather than ignoring people in your close proximity, if you have a conversation you’ll both feel happier. People predicted that they would prefer having solitude. But in practice, while commuting, they had a more positive experience if they held a conversation.

“Rather than ignoring people in your close proximity, if you have a conversation you will both feel happier.”

Gillian Sandstrom is a researcher who has spent a lot of her career researching the positive benefits of talking to strangers, as well as the power of weak ties. Her research at a Starbucks coffee shop showed that having a positive conversation with the barista improves one’s happiness and sense of belonging.

The social network

One reason to explain why weak ties might help promote well-being is that they contribute to the diversity of the social network. Having a diverse social portfolio might make people less vulnerable to fluctuations in their social network. Indeed, the diversity of one’s social network has been identified as a protective factor against disease development and mortality against a broad range of illnesses. There may be added value in having a wide circle of weak ties who offer companionship in different contexts.

“Having a positive conversation with the barista improves one’s happiness and sense of belonging.”

The current research suggests that we should not underestimate the value of acquaintances or brief interactions with strangers. Small moments matter, and can make a big difference to our wellbeing and feelings of belonging.

 

(1977) Granovetter, Mark. ‘The Strength of Weak Ties’ Social Networks pgs. 347-367.

(2014) Nicholas Epley and Juliana Schroeder. ‘Mistakenly Seeking Solitude’. Journal of Experimental Psychology, Vol. 143, No. 5.

Sandstrom, G. M., & Dunn, E. W. (2014). Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40(7), 910–922. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167214529799