Why do we instinctively walk around, pace, or play with something while talking on the phone?
In: Biology
Your brain is wired to receive aural and visual stimuli during a conversation. Not being able to look at your conversation partner‘s face causes a slight apprehension, which you subconsciously ease by fidgeting/pacing/etc.
We have a thing called appetitive stimulus.
Our general interest in things causes us to get up and roam around. You can see dogs do this. They wander around the yard sniffing. And you’re like, after an hour, haven’t they smelled everything there is to smell? I mean that seems boring. Well, the appetitive stimulus never stops. So neither does the sniffing stop.
When you are having a good conversation, it releases endorphins, which raises your general excitement level. This drives you to wander around the house and sniff things.
Others have offered restlessness and anxiety as explanations. These are all forms of arousal causing us to roam around and sniff.
I also roam around on the phone to make use of my time. I can clean the kitchen while I talk. My wife also hears me doing it through the phone. Not that I would shamelessly promote my own house work… okay I do that.
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