Can a deep conversation make people happier.

[Inga]

Talk Deeply, Be Happy?
By RONI CARYN RABIN

Would you be happier if you spent more time discussing the state of the world and the meaning of life — and less time talking about the weather?

It may sound counterintuitive, but people who spend more of their day having deep discussions and less time engaging in small talk seem to be happier, said Matthias Mehl, a psychologist at the University of Arizona who published a study on the subject.

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Dr. Mehl’s study was small and doesn’t prove a cause-and-effect relationship between the kind of conversations one has and one’s happiness. But that’s the planned next step, when he will ask people to increase the number of substantive conversations they have each day and cut back on small talk, and vice versa.

The study, published in the journal Psychological Science, involved 79 college students — 32 men and 47 women — who agreed to wear an electronically activated recorder with a microphone on their lapel that recorded 30-second snippets of conversation every 12.5 minutes for four days, creating what Dr. Mehl called “an acoustic diary of their day.”

Researchers then went through the tapes and classified the conversation snippets as either small talk about the weather or having watched a TV show, and more substantive talk about current affairs, philosophy, the difference between Baptists and Catholics or the role of education. A conversation about a TV show wasn’t always considered small talk; it could be categorized as substantive if the speakers analyzed the characters and their motivations, for example.

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http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/talk-deeply-be-happy/?src=me

I find this article intriguing. Maybe this is why there are so many clicks, where only certain people fit. I think some times people don't give other people a chance.

Sometimes it seems intelligent people can get impatience with people that aren't as quick thinking.But that doesn't always mean they don't have anything interesting to say.They could be shy.Sometimes the slower thinking person may strike a spark in an intelligent person mind that he may not have thought about.I've been on both sides.
 
I do think people are happier when they use their brain in deeper conversations.Do you agree with the study?

[IassaFTots]

I would say I agree.  I enjoy a good conversation, and a healthy debate, on any subject, especially when I learn something from it.  Much more so than just shooting the "bull." 

[Wineslob]

Sometimes it seems intelligent people can get impatience with people that aren't as quick thinking

I'm guilty of this. My wife says she can see my eyes "glaze over" if I find the conversation too dull. Plus it shows in my face.  
On the other side of the coin she also says I'm too "anecdotal".
Unfortunately my typing does not keep up with what I'd like to say. I'm terrible at it, hitting maybe 25 WPM.
That's the main reason you'll notice most of my responses are short and to the point


Yes I love a good, deep, interesting conversation.

[debk]

I'm guilty of this. My wife says she can see my eyes "glaze over" if I find the conversation too dull. Plus it shows in my face.  
On the other side of the coin she also says I'm too "anecdotal".
Unfortunately my typing does not keep up with what I'd like to say. I'm terrible at it, hitting maybe 25 WPM.
That's the main reason you'll notice most of my responses are short and to the point


Yes I love a good, deep, interesting conversation.

I think that is a common trait among most men. 

I would much rather have a good, interesting conversation than gossip. Which is why Runnin' Buddy and I get along so well. We aren't gossipers like most of the women we know.

[Wineslob]

My wife says it's a "kill me now" look.   

[debk]

My wife says it's a "kill me now" look.   

Yep...

Usually accompanied by a look from me that says....."please try to at least look  interested!