The fear is about starting the conversation, not having it
What they found
London-area commuters told to talk to a stranger rated their ride higher than those told to sit alone. A second group expected less from trying to talk than from actually talking.
How they know
Two preregistered experiments. Of 466 commuters randomly told to talk, sit alone or do as usual, 383 finished; 78% of the talk group reported talking. Another 148, split at random, imagined trying to talk or actually talking; they guessed a quarter of passengers would be willing.
What it means for you
If you hold back, the worry is probably the opening line, not the chat itself.
The limits
One area, one ride, self-rated mood. 11% quit when told to talk, 1% when told to sit alone. Nobody counted how many would talk. Commuters already expected talking to beat solitude.
This is a short takeaway in our own words, not a reproduction of the study. For the method, the sample and the caveats, read the original. Mind lives inside the Booking Minds app under the brain icon, where you can save and share each piece.