Why Small Talk About “Boring” Topics Often Feels Better Than You Expect
Summary: That awkward elevator exchange or brief coffee-break chat you try to avoid may actually lift your mood. New research from the American Psychological Association reveals a widespread “boredom bias”: people routinely underestimate how enjoyable conversations about seemingly dull topics will be.
Across nine experiments involving 1,800 participants, researchers found a consistent pattern: before a conversation, people predicted low interest and enjoyment for topics they labeled as “boring.” After the interaction, however, participants rated those same conversations as markedly more enjoyable than they had expected.
Key Findings
- Underestimated enjoyment: Participants predicted low interest in “boring” topics but reported higher enjoyment after talking about them.
- Robust effect: The boost in enjoyment appeared whether conversations were with strangers or friends and occurred both face-to-face and online.
- Social value: Even short, mundane exchanges can contribute to social connection, which supports mental and physical health.
- Wide topic range: The study tested diverse subjects—from historical events and financial topics to pets, diets, and participant-suggested subjects like math or onions—and social engagement outweighed perceived dullness in every case.
Research overview: The lead author, Elizabeth Trinh, MA, a doctoral student at the University of Michigan, and colleagues designed a set of experiments in which participants first predicted how much they would enjoy discussing topics they considered boring. Participants then actually had conversations about those topics, after which they rated their real experience. The clear result: conversations were typically more interesting and enjoyable than anticipated.
Trinh explains that the root of the bias is a misplaced focus on the topic itself. Before a conversation begins, the most visible cue is the subject matter, so people assume the topic determines the interaction’s value. But during the exchange, the quality of the social interaction—being listened to, responding, and discovering personal details—becomes the primary driver of enjoyment.
“What really drives enjoyment is engagement,” Trinh said. “Feeling heard, responding to each other, and discovering unexpected details about someone’s life can make even a mundane topic meaningful.” This shift from topic-centered judgment to interaction-centered experience explains why so many seemingly dull conversations turn out to be rewarding.
Why this matters for mental health and daily life
Small social interactions—brief chats with coworkers, neighbors, or strangers—are more than filler. They are micro-opportunities for connection that accumulate into greater well-being. Avoiding these moments because a topic appears uninteresting can mean missing accessible ways to build social bonds and protect against loneliness, stress, and low mood.
If you find yourself stuck in a conversation you expect to be boring, the researchers suggest shifting attention away from the topic and toward the person you are talking with: ask follow-up questions, share a brief anecdote, or invite the other person to elaborate. Those small adjustments emphasize mutual engagement and often transform the interaction.
Key Questions Answered:
A: The enjoyment usually comes from the exchange, not the subject. Feeling heard and responding to another person produces positive social reward, so the topic itself becomes less important.
A: Brief social interactions act like a daily social “vitamin.” Skipping them because you expect them to be dull reduces chances to gain small but meaningful boosts to mood, belonging, and resilience against stress.
A: Yes. Shift from reciting facts to engaging with the person: ask a follow-up question, relate a brief personal detail, or invite a different angle. That interpersonal shift often defeats the boredom bias.
Editorial Notes:
- This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor.
- The journal paper was reviewed in full.
- Additional context was added by our staff.
About this social neuroscience research news
Author: James Sliwa, APA
Source: American Psychological Association (APA)
Contact: James Sliwa – APA
Image credit: Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Conversations About Boring Topics Are More Interesting Than We Think” by Elizabeth N. Trinh, Nicole Thio, and Nadav Klein. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. DOI: 10.1037/pspi0000521