Getting really uncomfortable with corporate culture

I recently started a new job at an asset manager but I'm having problems adjusting to the culture. I’m not sure if it’s a company-specific thing or if it’s common to all bigger companies, but everything feels so fake. People are very polite, but they are rarely ever genuine. People only talk about work and the weather. They actively avoid conflict and confrontation but take you to HR for things that a normal person would probably just have a chat about. I’ve been talking to some people in private and the advice has unanimously been the likes of “just wear headphones around the office” or “just smile and nod at regular intervals”, and all in all, stop caring about people and detach yourself too.

I wonder what other people’s experiences are - is this the case at your companies? Do you play along with it? Does it bother you? Really keen to hear what you all think, especially whether this is just an AM/big company thing, and if things are better at boutiques or other branches of “high finance”.

Thanks all!