Researchers from the University of Sussex have identified a practical approach to reducing the fear many people feel about talking to strangers. The findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, add to a growing evidence base about how social exposure can reshape anxious responses in real time and over short timeframes.
In the study, 286 volunteers joined a five‑day, game‑based program designed to simulate everyday social encounters. Each participant completed 29 tasks that required locating an in‑game partner who matched a specific definition within the application. The setup compelled participants to initiate conversations with unfamiliar players and to engage in a brief poll both before and after each match. The design ensured that social interaction was not just encouraged but structurally embedded into the challenge, mirroring common real‑world situations where strangers are encountered in social or professional settings.
Across successive days, the participants showed measurable shifts in comfort and confidence. By the end of the five days, many reported reduced awkwardness and a decreased fear of rejection when approaching strangers. Importantly, these improvements persisted for at least one week after the program concluded, suggesting a short‑term carryover effect beyond the immediate game environment. This pattern indicates that repeated social exposure within a controlled framework can help recalibrate instinctive responses to unfamiliar people, potentially lowering long‑term social anxiety for some individuals.
As loneliness emerges as a public health concern with potential consequences for mental and physical well‑being, experts note that repeated, positive interactions with strangers may serve as a protective factor. The researchers emphasize that consistent, low‑stakes experiences of talking to new people can gradually increase social safety and resilience, reducing the perceived risk of social missteps. In practical terms, this kind of approach could inform programs aimed at improving workplace collaboration, community integration, and everyday social confidence, offering a scalable method to ease social hesitation in a variety of contexts. The study thus contributes to a broader understanding of how short, structured social challenges can build comfort with strangers while maintaining personal boundaries and safety.