Surprising a Friend With a Text or Note Could Make Their Day
For many of us, pandemic social distancing has gradually morphed into a different (and less healthy) kind of “social distance” — one in which we have little or no contact with many people we once considered close friends. If you’re ready to reconnect but not quite sure how your text or phone call will be received, a new study has some good news for you: It’s probably going to make your friend happier than you might imagine.The research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (PDF) and discussed in an article from the American Psychological Association (APA) on July 11, found that people consistently underestimated how much others in their social circle might appreciate an unexpected phone call, text, or email just to say hello — and the more…