Can physical warmth (or coldness) predict trait loneliness? A replication of Bargh and Shalev (2012).

Abstract

In recent years, psychologists have become increasingly interested in the extent to which abstract concepts can be “embodied” in physical experiences. Bargh and Shalev (2012) demonstrated that individuals who experienced physical coldness (in the form of a cold pack) reported that they were lonelier than individuals who experienced physical warmth (in the form of a hand warmer) (Bargh & Shalev, 2012). Using procedures that were very similar to those in the original study and a sample size that was more than 5 times larger, we found that there was no difference between conditions, a finding that failed to replicate the original study. People who held a cold pack did not report that they were lonelier than people who held a warm pack. Holding a cold pack versus a warm pack also did not have an effect on people’s personality traits. Overall, we suggest that there needs to be further research to determine if there is a connection between physical warmth and interpersonal warmth. SCIENTIFIC A BSTRACT Bargh and Shalev (2012) hypothesized that experiencing physical coldness will lead individuals to report greater loneliness than if they experienced physical warmth. In their Study 2, they conducted an experiment in which they showed that participants who held a cold pack reported higher trait loneliness (as measured by a short form of the UCLA Loneliness Scale; Russell, 1996) than participants in the warm condition. We attempted to replicate this potentially practically important finding in a high-powered study (N 260). We also assessed the Big Five personality traits to determine if warmth or coldness might lead to changes in self-reported personality traits (particularly agreeableness). Our results showed that holding a hand warmer or cold pack for 1 min had no effect on trait loneliness in our study, with an effect size of essentially zero. The effect remained nonsignificant after excluding participants who reported any suspicion about the connection between the warmth-coldness manipulation and the measure of loneliness. There were also no effects of the cold (vs. warm) packs on personality traits. The question of the potential connection between physical warmth or coldness and loneliness warrants further research before it can be accepted.