Talking to Strangers, What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know

A psychological investigation into the flaws in human judgment when encountering unfamiliar people. The work examines high-profile cases of deception, miscommunication, and tragic misunderstandings to reveal systematic biases in how we interpret strangers’ behavior and intentions. Written for general audiences interested in psychology and social behavior, it combines academic research with compelling real-world examples. The analysis suggests our confidence in reading others is often misplaced, with serious implications for justice, safety, and human interaction.