People Appreciate Being Reached Out to More Than We Think

You may assume that a simple hello or check-in text message has little effect on your friends and family — but you know what they say when you assume. Research published by the American Psychological Association earlier this year shows that friends enjoy being reached out to more than most people think. “People are fundamentally social beings and enjoy connecting with others,” lead author Peggy Liu said in a press release. “There is much research showing that maintaining social connections is good for our mental and physical health.” She continued: “However, despite the importance and enjoyment of social connection, our research suggests that people significantly underestimate how much others will appreciate being reached out to.” Liu’s team conducted experiments on nearly 6,000 participants to gauge “how accurate people are at estimating how much others might appreciate an attempt to connect.” They found that an element of surprise, like reaching out to someone you have lost touch with, was associated with an even higher level of appreciation. So consider this your sign to finally connect with that old friend you’ve been meaning to call.

About the Research