Do You Talk to Strangers?

Most of us were admonished as children not to talk to strangers, for fear of kidnapping, or worse. Although the intention behind the directive is admirable and may seem like responsible parenting, it might set a child up for unnecessary hesitation to meet new people and perhaps even lead to social anxiety. When my son was young, my instruction to him was that he could talk to strangers only if an adult he trusted was with him. He was not permitted to go anywhere with someone he didn’t know, nor accept anything from them. I reminded him that everyone in our lives started out as a stranger and that closeness developed over time as someone became more familiar. As I contemplate it, it occurs to me that I also encouraged him to trust his instincts about someone feeling unsafe. Throughout his life, he would question if I knew a person I might greet in the supermarket or on the street as we would pass by. When I would tell him that he or she was new to me, he would ask, puzzled why I would say hello. My response was that this person was in my world and I never knew what relationship might develop between us. I have cultivated many friendships that way. Now at 30, he still rolls his eyes at his highly extroverted mother who hugs strangers on the street.  Although he makes friends easily, it is not in his paradigm to actively solicit contact with a person not already in his circles. One of my favorite places to engage in conversation is in airports. As I have been doing a fair am...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Children and Teens Creativity Friends Inspiration & Hope Psychotherapy Stories Relationships Communication community Extroversion Extrovert Friendship Introversion Introvert Making Friends Social Anxiety s Source Type: blogs