Psychology suggests that people who talk to supermarket cashiers don’t do it just out of politeness, they actually have great emotional intelligence.

In everyday life, going to the supermarket It is an activity that we carry out automatically; We walk the aisles, choose the products we need and wait our turn at the checkout looking at the phone or thinking about what we have to do next. However, there are those who take advantage of talk to the cashier And, although it may seem like an insignificant gesture, psychology suggests that this behavior could be related to skills such as emotional intelligence, kindness and empathy.

From the field of psychology, the term is used “low intensity social interactions” to describe those brief contacts we have with people who are not part of our close circle. For years these conversations were thought to be unimportant, but recent research has shown that they can positively influence emotional well-being both from the one who starts the conversation and from the one who receives it.

Why do people talk to cashiers at the supermarket?

Talking to a cashier implies recognizing the other person as an individual and not only as someone who provides a service, which reflects a increased interpersonal awareness. Those who develop this skill usually pay special attention to the facial expressions, tone of voice and body language of others, and it is precisely this sensitivity that creates a more relaxed atmosphere when having a conversation.

The emotional intelligence It plays a key role in this type of interactions, understanding as such the ability to manage both our own emotions and understand those of those around us. This concept was popularized by psychologist and popularizer Daniel Goleman, although it is based on previous research by Peter Salovey and John Mayer, and is made up of five key elements: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills. The latter are what allow positive relationships to be established even in everyday contexts, such as shopping at the supermarket.

Empathy is also very important, which consists of trying understand another person’s emotional state without having to experience exactly the same situation. For those who work for hours in front of the public, a kind comment can represent a pleasant break.

emotional contagion

Psychology has also studied How positive emotions can spread between people. A smile, a thank you or a short conversation can improve the mood of the recipient and, at the same time, that person can transmit that positive attitude to other clients or colleagues.

Although empathy and emotional contagion They share several characteristics, in reality they are two different phenomena. To differentiate them, it is necessary to attend to a fundamental characteristic: the autonomy of the emotion. This quality is present in empathy, but not in emotional contagion. Autonomy refers to a person’s ability to distinguish between their own emotions and those that the other person is experiencing.

Thus, when we feel empathy, we are able to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, understand the scope of their emotions and maintain the awareness that those feelings belong to the other person. On the other hand, emotional contagion constitutes an automatic process in which, as explained above, an involuntary synchronization occurs with the emotions and behavior of another individual.

Personality traits

People who talk to cashiers at the supermarket usually show a high level of emotional intelligence. Not only are they able to start a conversation in different contexts and circumstances, but they also demonstrate empathy towards othersunderstanding that many workers may feel tired, stressed or undervalued at the end of their day. Furthermore, stopping for a few moments to chat and establish eye contact demonstrates a good ability to function comfortably in different social situations.

To this we must add with other people during their work day it reflects a prosocial behaviorcharacterized by interest in the well-being of others. Sometimes, a few kind words or a brief conversation can help improve the mood of the recipient and make a moment of their day more pleasant. Beyond putting their social skills into practice, these people seek to generate positive interaction with those around them.

Finally, these people do not tend to anticipate negative scenarios or constantly question what they are going to say before speaking. They approach interactions with strangers in a natural and relaxed manner, which makes it easier for the conversation to develop fluidly. This ease of relating also has a positive impact on your well-beingsince satisfying social experiences increase confidence for future interactions.

Although a brief conversation at the supermarket checkout may seem like an everyday gesture without much importance, from psychology it is considered that this type of interaction reflects skills such as empathy, social trust, awareness of the environment and ability to establish positive connections with others.