What makes new acquaintances or employees ‘click’ with each other?
What does it mean to have ‘merged minds’ with a close partner or a coworker?
My research investigates the psychological experience of being on the same wavelength— those moment when we exchange knowing glances, finish each other’s sentences, and think in sync. My work has introduced the construct of generalized shared reality: the perception of sharing the same inner states (like feelings, beliefs, or attitudes) with an interaction partner about the world.
I’ve shown that this sense of generalized shared reality helps explain why we sometimes instantly “click” with strangers, or feel a profound sense of merging minds with romantic partners. It also plays a critical role in how people come to feel confident in their perceptions, pursue goals effectively, and find meaning in life.
In organizational contexts, I have found that generalized shared reality can spark new professional connections and contribute to workplace outcomes like work meaningfulness and job performance.
To learn more about how I measure shared reality—through self-report and behavioral coding—please visit the Measuring Shared Realitypage.
