City Research Online

Abstract

Physical temperature can determine physical and psychological experiences. On the psychological level, warmth orients people to others and motivates them to affiliate. Individuals who are motivated to affiliate often do so by answering affirmatively to questions. Consequently, we argue that physical warmth fosters affirmative response behavior. The results of three studies are in line with this argument. In a warm environment, individuals were more likely to respond with “yes” in a memory test (Study 1). The warmer individuals felt, the more they answered affirmatively to the items of a questionnaire (Study 2). If they imagined that a friend would read the answers, this effect was amplified (Study 3). Answering unbiased questions is a key tool in the toolkit of a forensic psychologist. Therefore, the finding that warmth and cold affect responses behavior stipulates multiple points of discussion for their practical work as well as research.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Reused with permission from Deutscher Psychologen Verlag GmbH.
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Departments:	Bayes Business School > Management

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