A recent study revealed that the 70% of Argentines feel uncomfortable with prolonged silence. The investigation determined that, on average, the country’s inhabitants only tolerate 6.5 seconds of silence before experiencing discomfort.
This phenomenon is not exclusive to Argentina: Brazil, Italy, Colombia, the United States and Hong Kong also register similar levels of rejection of silence.
Argentine culture, known for its verbosity and sociabilityvalues constant communication. In contexts such as work meetings, family gatherings or dates, silence is often interpreted as an uncomfortable void that requires filling with words.
According to Yolanda Del Peso Ramos, language and digital marketing specialist at Preply, this feature reflects a cultural preference for lively interaction and constant contact.
What are the most uncomfortable moments of silence?
The report identified the scenarios where silence generates the greatest tension. The elevators top the list with a 76% of mentions, followed by first dates and funeralsboth with a 72%. In these contexts, Argentines often resort to trivial phrases such as comments about the weather to break the silence.
The love breakups the conversations with strangers and the conflict situations These are other of the most uncomfortable scenarios. In the workplace, the face-to-face meetings and virtual They also generate tension when the dialogue is interrupted.
Psychologist Beatriz Goldberg explains that, in these cases, silence can be perceived as a emotional voidespecially when there are expectations of fluid communication.
Why the brain seeks to fill every moment with noise or distraction
The human brain tends to associate silence with discomfort or anxietyespecially in Western cultures. According to Seiji Nishinoprofessor of psychiatry at Stanford, this reaction is related to the need for avoid communication gapswhich can be interpreted as a lack of connection or interest.
In Argentina, the Generation Z between 18 and 25 years old, is the one who suffers the most from this discomfort, with a 45% who fears silence on first dates. Men also show greater rejection of mutism in relationships, with a 21% who perceives it as a sign of conflict, compared to only a 12% Women’s.
The psychologist Romina Halbwirth points out that silence is not a technical errorbut a threshold which, handled well, can reveal deep emotions. However, in a hyperconnected society, need to fill every pause with sounds or distractions—such as cell phone use—reflects a anxiety to avoid introspection.
How to learn to tolerate silence and turn it into a space of calm
Specialists suggest that learn to inhabit silence can be beneficial for mental health. Halbwirth recommends resignify the pauses as moments of reflection, instead of interpreting them as failures in communication.
In cultures like Japanese or Hindusilence is valued as a space of respect and contemplation. Adopting this perspective can help reduce the anxiety associated with mutism. Cognitive behavioral therapy also offers tools to manage sedatephobia (fear of silence), channeling sensitivity towards creative activities such as art or music.
For those who experience high sensitivity to soundthe psychologist Julissa Martinez advises finding a balance between auditory stimulation and moments of calm. The goal is not to eliminate noise completely, but learn to live with him without generating stress.
In cases of misophonia (intense rejection of specific sounds), it is recommended to identify the triggers and work on relaxation techniques to avoid extreme reactions.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
