Social connection: People feel like they “click” more in conversations with rapid responses

The more quickly people respond to each other during a conversation, the more likely they are to feel in sync



Mind



28 January 2022

New Scientist Default Image

Speedy responses in a conversation make people feel connected

Justin Lambert/Getty Images

The connection we feel to others when we have a good conversation isn’t based solely on the content of the chat. Research shows that the faster people respond to one another during a conversation, the more likely they are to feel in sync.

Conversations involve turn-taking, with back-and-forth replies happening within a mere quarter of a second on average.

This response speed is key for feeling social connection, according to experiments by Emma Templeton at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire …