The temperature of emotions

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252408
• Publication Date: 2021-06-03T17:38:47Z
• Authors: Francisco Barbosa...; Carlos Velasco; Kosuke Motoki; Derek Victor Byrne; Qian Janice Wang
• Keywords: Affect; Implicit-association test; Association (psychology); Low arousal theory

Emotions and temperature are closely related through embodied processes, people seem to associate concepts with emotions. While this relationship is often evidenced by everyday language (e.g., cold warm feelings), what remains missing date a systematic study that holistically analyzes how why specific temperatures The present research aimed investigate the associations between emotion adjectives on both explicit implicit levels. In Experiment 1, we evaluated twelve pairs of derived from circumplex model affect, five different ranging 0°C 40°C, based responses 403 native speakers four languages (English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese). results 1 revealed that, across languages, were associated regions model. 10°C negative-valanced, low-arousal emotions, while 20°C was positive-valanced, low-to-medium-arousal Moreover, 30°C high-arousal emotions; 40°C either positive- or negative-valanced 2 (N = 102), explored whether these temperature-emotion also at level, conducting Implicit Association Tests (IATs) words (cold hot) opposing emotional for each dimension valence (Unhappy/Dissatisfied vs. Happy/Satisfied) arousal (Passive/Quiet Active/Alert) English speakers. participants held word hot positive-valanced Additionally, These findings provide evidence existence levels languages.