Let's make some Metra noise

June 03, 2011|By Nicholas Epley

Everyone wants a little more peace and quiet. Monday, Metra begins offering some in the form of "quiet cars" on all trains. Talking on cellphones and to fellow commuters is discouraged.

Sounds great, doesn't it?

Indeed, Metra reports that 84 percent of people who responded to a survey were in favor of these cars. We found the same thing in an experiment that asked Chicagoans to predict how much they would enjoy different kinds of commutes. In the experiment, people predicted they would find a commute where they sat alone and enjoyed their solitude more pleasant than one where they were asked to strike up a conversation with a fellow passenger.

Could these people be wrong? We think so.

Psychologists have found consistently that connecting with others is the most important determinant of happiness.

In experiments we conducted over the last several months, we found the same to be true while commuting. In one experiment, we asked Metra commuters in one group to "enjoy their solitude" and refrain from speaking to other commuters. Others were asked to talk to another passenger. A final group received no instructions. At the end of their ride, these commuters filled out a survey about themselves and the commute.

The results? Commuters asked to interact with other passengers reported having the most pleasant commute. Commuters asked to enjoy their solitude reported the least pleasant commute. The pleasure of conversation was not just restricted to friendly people; we found the same results among introverts and extroverts. All three groups rated their commutes as equally productive. We found the same results in a second experiment with commuters using a CTA train or bus in downtown Chicago.

If connecting with others is more pleasant than sitting alone, why the strong preference for quiet cars, silent cabs and empty rows on airplanes? People have strong beliefs about what will make them happy. Sometimes those beliefs are systematically wrong.

For instance, variety is the spice of life, right? Not exactly. In one experiment conducted at Carnegie Mellon University, people were asked to choose which of three snacks they would like to eat once a week for three consecutive weeks. Seeking variety, most thought they would be happiest with a different snack each week. In reality, the happiest participants were those instructed to eat their favorite snack each week.

Or maybe happiness comes from owning a bigger house, winning the lottery or living on one's own deserted island? Again, research demonstrates no, no and absolutely no.

People enjoy connecting with others.

So, as Metra gives people more opportunity for the isolation they apparently want, we encourage you to run our experiment yourself. Ask just one person as you commute on the bus or train what they do for a living, what they're most excited about this summer, or what they think of the Cubs' chances this year. The result might be a pleasant surprise.

Nicholas Epley is a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Juliana Schroeder is a Ph.D. student at the school.