In a study, strangers were put in a group and told to socialize. Afterward, they watched a video recording of their interactions. They were asked to indicate at which points in the video they felt most awkward. It turned out that the entire group felt less awkward when someone behaved positively toward someone else. However, it’s important to note that if your voice is strained and stressed, making positive remarks won’t work. You have to mean what you say.