Scientists from two different universities have teamed up to test if physical warmth and emotional feedback affected each other. They showed that by warming up our hands by holding hands, we’re also warming up our hearts, thus making ourselves more approachable and bright.
Forty-one study participants had to fill out a questionnaire about someone they had not met. While getting into the elevator, each participant was given either a hot cup of coffee or an iced coffee for the duration of the ride without knowing that holding the cup was part of the research. Once in the questionnaire room, the unknown person is then described to each of the students with words like, “skillful, practical, cautious, industrious, and intelligent” and then the students fill out their opinions about the unknown person’s personality.
Those students who hold the hot cup of coffee answered more favorably that the unknown person had a warmer personality than those who held the iced coffee.
Another experiment included 53 volunteers holding either a hot or cold therapeutic pad and were asked to evaluate its quality as a product. After evaluating the products, participants were able to choose a parting gift, a sweet for themselves or one to share with a friend. Of the half of the group that held the warm pad, 54 % of them chose the treat to share and of the group that held the cold pad, 25 % chose the shared reward over one just for themselves.
Researchers believe that the effect of physical temperature is not just on how people see others but that it also affects their behavior. Physical warmth can influence our perception of others but also cause us to be warmer, more generous and trusting.
It may take less than 30 seconds of holding a hot cup of coffee even to alter the way we see others. The students who held the hot cup were more sociable and easier to talk to while the iced coffee holders had less interaction with others and seemed harder to approach. Undoubtedly, there’s a definite cause-effect connection between temperature and emotional reactions.
So, next time you want a hand to hold, consider warming yours up first because you never know the emotional response you will get.
The study’s authors explain that the emotional response to a feeling of comfort that starts as an infant when being held and feeling warmth is inherently linked to necessities such as safety, food, and of course, love.
Forty-one study participants had to fill out a questionnaire about someone they had not met. While getting into the elevator, each participant was given either a hot cup of coffee or an iced coffee for the duration of the ride without knowing that holding the cup was part of the research. Once in the questionnaire room, the unknown person is then described to each of the students with words like, “skillful, practical, cautious, industrious, and intelligent” and then the students fill out their opinions about the unknown person’s personality.
Those students who hold the hot cup of coffee answered more favorably that the unknown person had a warmer personality than those who held the iced coffee.
Another experiment included 53 volunteers holding either a hot or cold therapeutic pad and were asked to evaluate its quality as a product. After evaluating the products, participants were able to choose a parting gift, a sweet for themselves or one to share with a friend. Of the half of the group that held the warm pad, 54 % of them chose the treat to share and of the group that held the cold pad, 25 % chose the shared reward over one just for themselves.
Researchers believe that the effect of physical temperature is not just on how people see others but that it also affects their behavior. Physical warmth can influence our perception of others but also cause us to be warmer, more generous and trusting.
It may take less than 30 seconds of holding a hot cup of coffee even to alter the way we see others. The students who held the hot cup were more sociable and easier to talk to while the iced coffee holders had less interaction with others and seemed harder to approach. Undoubtedly, there’s a definite cause-effect connection between temperature and emotional reactions.
So, next time you want a hand to hold, consider warming yours up first because you never know the emotional response you will get.
The study’s authors explain that the emotional response to a feeling of comfort that starts as an infant when being held and feeling warmth is inherently linked to necessities such as safety, food, and of course, love.
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This is very interesting and informative. Next time I approach an attractive woman, I sure will be holding a hot cup of coffee in my hand.
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