We all know someone at work or in the social field that, while another person is talking, does not stop interrupting or trying to monopolize the conversation. If you don’t know anyone like that, it is the same that this person is you.
Although these interruptions are annoying for both those who are talking and for those who listen to it, they are not always the product of a lack of respect or bad education. Numerous psychological studies have studied this phenomenon and discovered that these interruptions may be influenced by psychological , social , and even cultural factors .
Conversation Shifts and Interruptions
Conversation shifts are essential for verbal communication to flow in an orderly and respectful way . When someone interrupts, there is a break in that flow that can negatively affect the group dynamics.
According to a study published in the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior by researchers from the University of Rochester (New York), the people who interrupted conversations were considered less sociable and more assertive than those who did not interrupt. They were also perceived as more dominant , which did not always win the sympathies of the rest of the group.
The rupture of the shift system during conversation can generate frustration or a feeling of injustice, as an imbalance is perceived in the exposure of ideas. According to the data collected by The New York Times, “For many of us, it can be perceived as a degrading and condescending attitude,” said Maria Venetis, an associate professor of communication at Rutgers University .
According to research from the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland, not all interruptions respond to an act of bad education but are the result of a narcissistic personality or a demonstration of power. Scientific evidence suggests that women tend to be interrupted more frequently. A study from George Washington University discovered that men interrupt women 33% more than other men.
In the workplace , for example, interruptions are usually related to hierarchies and power relations . Thus, the interruption can be a control or authority statement , more than a simple lack of courtesy.
On the other hand, the group’s cultural factors also influence the frequency and meaning of interruptions. An investigation from Pablo de Olavide University in Seville reveals that, in some cultures, the superposition of shifts and interruptions are considered signs of enthusiasm and participation in communication, while in others, they are interpreted as disrespect that dilutes the rhythm of communication.
What Was I Going to Tell You …?
Not all interruptions have to do with power or culture. According to a published article by the American Psychological Association , some interruptions originate from difficulties in attention , neurodivergence , or due to anxiety features of the person who interrupts.
The essay of the psychologists Carl Rogers and Richard Farson stresses that “active listening requires that we understand, from the point of view of the speaker, exactly what is communicating to us.” This form of listening does not focus on responding or judging immediately, but on precisely understanding both the content and feelings of the interlocutor, and showing that it has been understood.
People with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD) or anxiety may have difficulty keeping this active listening and could leap to the preparation phase of their speech. In other words, they tend to answer before their interlocutor ends their exposition.
Research by psychologist Russell Barkley , an expert on ADHD, suggests that people with this disorder often struggle with controlling verbal impulses and have problems with working memory . They may interrupt and not remember to wait for their turn because they do not trust themselves to remember what they want to say later, leading them to interrupt during conversations.
Considering that a significant percentage of adults with ADHD remain undiagnosed, it is entirely possible that those friends or coworkers who frequently interrupt may fall into that category. Alternatively, they may genuinely be uninterested in what you’re discussing.
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