Conversational Psychology (CONNECTING WITH OTHERS) with Nicholas Epley

About this episode

Social anxiety icebreakers. Third spaces. Slumber parties with old friends. Helping out strangers. And why primates are wired to be better connected than we are now. Dr. Nicholas Epley – a distinguished Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago and the author of “A Little More Social” – explains how important social activity is for physical and mental health, why people are experiencing a friendship recession, how texting affects your hormones, how seeing other cultures can shape your life, the world’s friendliest cities, and the low expectations keeping us feeling lonely. Also: don’t be afraid to pick up the phone. Visit Dr. Epley’s website Buy his books, A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection and Mindwise: Why We Misunderstand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want A donation went to Ruby’s Rainbow More episode sources and links Other episodes you may enjoy: Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES) , Awe Psychology (WONDER) , Eudemonology (HAPPINESS) , Awesomeology (GRATITUDE FOR LITTLE THINGS) , Sports & Performance Psychology (ANXIETY & CONFIDENCE) , Syndesiology (CONNECTIONS) , Mythology (STORYTELLING) Jarrett Sleeper’s “ 30 Words for Love – a long poem ” 400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes Sponsors of Ologies Transcripts and bleeped episodes Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee Managing Director: Susan Hale Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth Transcripts by Aveline Malek Website by Kelly R. Dwyer Theme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.