After seeing the results of a clever psychological study, I’m considering making a major change to my daily commute

Business Insider:

As a born-and-raised New Yorker, I’m an expert at ignoring people.

Nowhere does that skill come in handier than on a crowded subway, where my limbs are often entangled with those of other riders, our faces close enough for me to smell the latte on their breath. The key, I’ve learned, is to pretend they don’t exist.

Seriously — don’t acknowledge the physical intimacy, don’t try to crack a joke about it, and definitely don’t use it as an opportunity to ask where they’re headed.

…

I recently spoke with Nicholas Epley, a psychologist, professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and author of the 2014 book “Mindwise.” In the book, Epley highlights a study he conducted with Juliana Schroeder, a professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley, which found that people are much happier on their commutes when they engage another passenger in conversation.

Read the whole story: Business Insider