This post is my personal perspective on core components of social interaction. Feel free to add or debate anything I’ve missed.
I will break social interaction down into these sections.
Scene and setting; Introduction; Interaction; Emotional experience; Connection; Mutual respect; Social cues; Experience.
Firstly, where you are when interacting with new people makes all the difference in the world. Where you are and the social etiquette of that location will influence how you act. You may be on a beach where people tend to stay distanced. You may be in a club where people are close together. Either way there are “rules”/guidelines of how to act. Ofcourse, always, be yourself.
When meeting someone new the first social interaction to take place is an introduction. This is the basis/foundation on whether someone will want to interact with you or not. There are many ways to introduce yourself to someone new, or even maybe a group. A simple “hello 👋” or a joke is sufficient enough to start a conversation. Funny or not, how you present yourself is what will make people want to engage with you, or continue elsewhere. Presentation is key in multiple aspects. Did you brush your hair? Are you wearing clothing that suits you? Do you look stiff or feel rigid? People assess with their eyes and process whether or not they want to continue interacting with you. There is the saying don’t judge a book by its cover, however someone who is well kept, good smell, shiny teeth, tend to gain more favour over someone who hasn’t made an effort with their appearance, hasn’t washed or even brushed their teeth. Everyone presents differently with body language and if you look friendly people will think you are friendly. There is no rule book on how to present, or even how to interact. The key thing is try to have fun and be yourself.
An interaction occurs between two or more people and allows all parties to assess the person(s) that they are talking to. This is a natural necessary process that ensures all parties are safe. From my understanding an interaction are the conversations and events that take place when two or more people engage with each other, which leads me onto my next section emotional experience.
Okay so we have talked about the assessment side. What about the side that we feel? Going with the flow and making the effort to engage with new people to have more experience in interacting is how you gain social skills. Being in tune with your own emotional state is very important as it will guide you through the interaction, allow you to respond better and be more clear as to why it is you are engaging with this person. It is perfectly natural and understandable to want positive social/human interaction. Taking into account the other persons emotional experience allows for connection and understanding between both or all parties.
Please find the continuation in pt.2