The key facts
- Dartmouth College specialists analyzed more than a thousand conversations using the MPNet neural network
- The most enjoyable conversations turned out to be those alternating between general topics and unexpected ideas — by analogy with 'pink noise'
- The nature of a conversation on a speed date can predict which couples will agree to a second meeting
The secret of an engaging conversation lies in the balance of topics
Why can you talk with some people for hours without noticing the time, while with others the conversation never takes off from the first minutes? Specialists at Dartmouth College have concluded that the key is a special alternation between general topics and unexpected ideas; their study was published in the journal Science Advances, and The Guardian reported on it. Life.ru also prepared material on this topic.
'Pink noise' in conversation
The researchers studied more than a thousand conversations between strangers, as well as conversations between friends and speed-dating participants. As it turned out, the greatest pleasure comes from communication in which the interlocutors manage to discuss one topic in detail but gradually move on to new thoughts. The scientists compared this dynamic to 'pink noise' — a phenomenon from physics that lies between complete chaos and excessive predictability: if people constantly jump from topic to topic, it is hard for them to understand each other, while endlessly discussing a single question quickly becomes tiring. The most interesting conversations arise somewhere in the middle.
How the analysis was conducted and what else the data showed
The MPNet neural network was used to assess the semantic closeness of remarks and the smoothness of topic changes. Participants in dialogues with pronounced 'pink noise' more often felt an emotional connection, enjoyed the communication, and wanted to continue it. Using speed-dating data, the researchers were able to predict from the nature of the conversation which couples would later agree to meet again — although the scientists themselves emphasize that a successful conversation by itself does not guarantee mutual attraction. An additional analysis of podcasts with two hosts showed that over the first 50 episodes the participants' conversations became more balanced; this suggests that the skill of engaging communication develops with practice. At the same time, the authors remind us that a pleasant conversation is not always an important one — difficult or awkward conversations also help to sort out complicated situations and preserve relationships.
Practical context
The study's conclusion is consistent with what psychologists had previously explained on Life.ru using examples of specific communication difficulties. Psychologist Yulia Belkina explained how to recognize passive aggression: even outwardly polite words can cause pain because of their hidden meaning, and in such cases it is important not to ignore one's own discomfort, but also not to jump to conclusions about the interlocutor's intentions. And psychologist Elena Vershinina advised that in an emotionally tense moment one should take a pause, avoid mutual accusations, and formulate a specific request instead of a complaint — this helps to stop a conversation from turning into a quarrel.
