"Maya Rossignac-Milon et al. (2025) in three studies explored the extent to which conversation predicts a sense of "realness" through shared reality.[i] They propose that conversation, especially with other people who are close contacts, is a critical method people use to perceive whether their experiences are objectively real. They give an example of asking someone else "Did you hear that sound?" as an objective reality test, illustrating the need to validate and verify one's experiences with others, to ensure they are not just subjective perceptions."
"In the first study, they found that conversation partners who just met and spontaneously discussed ambiguous images perceived the images as being more real-an experience that was mediated by a sense of shared reality. They found the same result in their second study, where on days participants spent more time talking with a close partner, such as a friend or family member, their experiences were also perceived as more real-an effect that, similar to the first study, was mediated by a sense of shared reality."
Three studies examined whether conversation predicts perceived realness through shared reality. Conversation with others, especially close contacts, functions as a reality test that validates sensory experiences and perceptions. Study 1 found that strangers who spontaneously discussed ambiguous images perceived the images as more real, an effect mediated by shared reality. Study 2 found that on days when participants spent more time talking with close partners, their experiences were perceived as more real, again mediated by shared reality. Shared reality is defined as the perception of sharing the same beliefs and feelings about the world.
Read at Psychology Today
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