How To End A Conversation: 3 Science-Approved Tips | Inverse

Why are we so bad at ending conversations? Well science is here to let you know why, and to give you advice on how to end conversations. Watch the video, and for a refresher, below are a few tips:

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1. Physical Clues
Famed sociologist Erving Goffman determined that the ideal distance between two people in a conversation is 1.5 to thee feet. If you incrementally nudge yourself past this range, tall drummer Caleb will begin to notice a figurative and literal gap between you and get the hint.

2 Language Indicators
Talking in the past tense is a good way to indicate that the conversation is a thing that happened and is now ending. "This has been fun" or "It was great catching up" are examples of sentences that will let Caleb know that the main event is now over, and it's time to go home.

3. Power Dynamics
This is a tricky one, because it’s not always something you can have control over. Social psychology generally dictates that whoever started the conversation generally has more of a priority to end it. Unfortunately, sociologist Kio Stark states that a perceived power, whether it be real or imagined, can strongly dictate who gets to start and end conversations, and it takes real gusto to overthrow that power hierarchy. Acknowledging the agendas of both people can help turn this on its head.
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In the end, the research is pretty conclusive: we all think we're way worse at having a conversation than we think. And nobody knows how to end a conversation anyway. So, give yourself a break next time you just want to tell Caleb that you think all Fleet Foxes songs sound the same, and now you are going to go to the bathroom, thank you very much.

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