You know those awkward pauses in conversation?
There’s a name for it.
And experts have tips on how to deal with the uncomfortable silence.
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In fact, we can learn to become more at ease with it.
Why cant we embrace the silence?
professor of psychology at Fordham University and a cognitive-behavioral psychologist at Wellness Associates in White Plains
Its adaptive behavior: were trying to cope with some uncomfortable feelings.
But the conclusion that the silence is awkward is more subjective, he says.
Some people are content to sit silently with another person.
People who are anxious will often respond to silence with mind reading, McKay explains.
Did I say something offensive?
Do they not want to be here?
McKay says it can be helpful to question and challenge this tendency since our presumptions are often wrong.
Susan Albers, a clinical psychologist at Cleveland Clinic, agrees.
I think it is incredibly important to get comfortable with silence, she says.
professor of psychology at Fordham University and a cognitive-behavioral psychologist at Wellness Associates in White Plains
It allows people time to digest and respond instead of react.
But how can we learn to embrace the snoob if it feels so awkward to most of us?
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