Why is it sometimes easier to talk to a stranger? I’ve been reading “Once Upon a Stranger” by Dr Gillian Sandstrom and she mentions the idea of psychological distance and it offers an interesting perspective. Sometimes, we find it easier to share our thoughts with someone we don’t know or don’t know well. Numerous articles have also been written about the fact that strangers, or people who aren’t close to us, don’t know our history and are thereby able to provide us with a clean slate.
The people closest to us care deeply. But they also: remember our past decisions, hold opinions about us shaped over time, and may respond with concern, advice, or protection. All of which is natural.
A stranger, on the other hand, listens without that history. There are no expectations. No assumptions. No need to defend or explain who you’ve been. Sometimes it’s not distance that creates connection - it’s the absence of history. And in that space, we may find it a little easier to hear ourselves clearly.
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