In a commentary, SMU Assistant Professor of Marketing Shilpa Madan said unfamiliar social situations produce stress because of what a faux pas might cost, such as colleagues, clients, or bosses reassessing a person negatively. Across five studies with Singaporean and American participants, she highlighted that their research found that participants who got stressed out more consistently learned faster when picking up the nuances of interacting in new social situations. Their research also found that people who react strongly to stress are more motivated to figure out solutions, and that is how they learn. She suggested that the next time we find ourselves in an unfamiliar social situation, take a step back before we try to suppress it. She added that with the right support, stress does what a good teacher does. It makes the lesson stick.