Fast Response Times Signal Social Connection in Conversation
Templeton, Chang, Reynolds, Cone LeBeaumont & Wheatley (2022) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(4)
We use this paper in 3 places in the academy · 3 stated limits
What the study found
In conversations between strangers and between friends, the faster people replied to each other, the more connected both felt. People listening from outside also judged the same clips as more connected when the replies were quicker.
This is our own view. The closest study is about speech. Shorter gaps between turns went with how connected friends and strangers felt, and people listening from outside could judge the connection from the gaps alone.
What the study cannot prove
The study used spoken conversations between friends and between strangers. It measured the gaps between turns in fractions of a second, and asked about connection straight afterwards. It says nothing about written messages, or about any pause long enough to notice.
Limits we note on the exercises
The effect is measured in milliseconds between turns, not in whether you take a second to think. It shows that a long gap has a cost. It does not tell you to hurry.
The gaps in the paper are fractions of a second, too short to control consciously. The paper supports answering plainly and not polishing. It says nothing about any particular pause.
The gaps were measured in milliseconds, in spoken conversation. The two-week rule and the test of shrinking replies are ours. The paper only shows that people notice how responsive someone is.
Where we use it
We use this paper in 3 places in the academy. If the paper turned out to be wrong, we would have to change everything in this list. Some of the exercise instructions below are part of Gold. You can read every finding for free.
Other papers used in the same places
These papers are used in the same topics and videos as this one. That does not mean the papers agree with each other. It only means that the same exercises use both.
Post-Event Processing in Social Anxiety
Rachman, Grüter-Andrew & Shafran (2000)The Liking Gap in Conversations: Do People Like Us More Than We Think?
Boothby, Cooney, Sandstrom & Clark (2018)It Doesn't Hurt to Ask: Question-Asking Increases Liking
Huang, Yeomans, Brooks, Minson & Gino (2017)Get Excited: Reappraising Pre-Performance Anxiety as Excitement
Brooks (2014)Beautiful Mess Effect: Self–Other Differences in Evaluation of Showing Vulnerability
Bruk, Scholl & Bless (2018)A Cognitive Model of Social Phobia
Clark & Wells (1995)Research
A real study. We tell you what it found, how many people were in it, and what it can't prove.
You are free to read, link to and quote this page. If we claim more than this paper shows, please tell us at contact@suaviq.com. We read every correction, and corrections help us more than any other email.