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Subtle variation in ambient room temperature influences the expression of social cognition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 August 2013

Jacob M. Vigil
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico; Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161. [email protected]://psych.unm.edu/people/directory-profiles/[email protected]
Tyler J. Swartz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224-2673. [email protected]
Lauren N. Rowell
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico; Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161. [email protected]://psych.unm.edu/people/directory-profiles/[email protected]

Abstract

Social signaling models predict that subtle variation in climatic temperature induces systematic changes in expressed cognition. An experiment showed that perceived room temperature was associated with variability in self-descriptions, social reactions of others, and desiring differing types of social networks. The findings reflect the tendency to inflate capacity demonstrations in warmer climates as a result of the social networking opportunities they enable.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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