I want to use this blog spot to periodically let you in on the results of various "social experiments" I conduct.  These are not scientifically varifiable types of research activities. They are usually random hunches that I choose to react to in the moment (yes--the result of acting on such hunches is often fraught with social dangers).

Experiment #1

I had one piece of school supplies left to buy.  I had spent the previous afternoon in a 1 and 1/2 hour search for an extra-long pencil box--I came home empty handed (I am humored by how specific school supplies lists are becoming).  Yesterday, I walked into the store I knew had to have the extra-long pencil box on their shelves.  Success!  I grabbed one of the remaining three extra-long pencil box containers and started towards the check out line.   This moment marked the beginning of my "experiment."

No joke--there were at least 5 people in each check out line. And each line-stander had at least 20 items to buy.  I had one extra-long pencil box.  The opportunity for a social experiment developed fast.  People were frustrated (I could relate-one extra-long pencil box) and guarded their items and place in line with grouchy dilligence.  The random hunch reaction was launched--I smiled and chatted with the person standing in front of me about the line situation (yes, I talked to someone standing in line with me).

The Result?  They smiled, laughed and we both started ribbing a young lady who asked us to save her place in line so she could exchange an item (she did get her place back and enjoyed the humor).  The experiment carried on outside the store as I smiled and chatted with those walking into the crowded store.  Here is what I learned from this experiment:

A smile and chat lowered the anxious feelings of both those receiving the smile and chat and the one delivering the smile and chat (me). 

Try it and see what happens! 

Oh, I bet this will also work in families and groups of people when tension is high (don't ask me how I know this).