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Overheard monologues spark phone rage

Nature (2004)Cite this article

Chatter is harder to ignore if we can only hear one side.

"Hello? Yeah, I'm on the train..." Hearts sink throughout the carriage as fellow passengers try to ignore the ensuing conversation. But what exactly is it that makes overhearing others' mobile phone conversations so annoying? Helped by a group of unwitting passengers, a team of British psychologists think they have the answer.

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References

  1. MonkA., FellasE. & LeyE. Behav. Information Technol, 23. 301 - 305 (2004).

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  2. MonkA., CarrollJ., ParkerS., BlytheM., Behav. Information Technol., 23. 33 - 42 (2004).

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Authors
  1. Michael Hopkin
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University of Pennsylvania

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Lee Humphreys

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Hopkin, M. Overheard monologues spark phone rage. Nature (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/news041004-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/news041004-5

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