Most of the joy we gain from other people is discussed as close relationships, but research points to an overlooked source: casual contact with strangers and acquaintances reliably lifts our mood, and we underestimate it, predicting solitude will feel better when the opposite is true

When we talk about the joy we gain from other people, we usually mean the deep stuff: love, family, the close friends who know us well. That joy is real and well documented, and it deserves its reputation. We sit in silence, confident we are sparing ourselves an unpleasant exchange, and quietly forgo an easy source of joy. The joy we gain from other people is not only stored in the handful of deep bonds we work to protect. The close relationships earn their place as the great wellspring of joy from other people, but they are not the whole of it.