Q.

“Can you tell me the time?”

“Do you have change for a five?’

‘Will you take a picture of me with my cat?”

Are you that person who strangers always stop to perform random tasks? Do they somehow find their way to you no matter how big the crowd? Do they even ask for your help when you are traveling and feeling pretty lost yourself?

🫵🏽

Or do even the most needy strangers skitter past you with a mild look of terror?

“Do you know where I could find anyone but you to answer my question?”

🙅🏽‍♀️

.

What makes someone a Stop versus a Skitter? Which people are more likely to have strangers on the street ask them for quick help?

.

A.

Australian cognitive psychologists Willis, Palermo and Burke were interested in Judging approachability on the face of it.

Not surprisingly, they found that strangers judged people with Happy faces as significantly more approachable than those showing Neutral and certainly Angry faces.

Strangers, however, felt more comfortable approaching people with Neutral body positions than those with Angry or Happy body positions. Why? Perhaps happiness that is intense enough to have traveled to the body might seem a little overwhelming or creepy for passers-by? 😬

.

Heading out with a Happy Face and a Neutral Body? Bring a watch, pocket change, and some top-notch photographer angles.

.

www.justcurious.ca

Header Art: Getty Images