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Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety

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Published on: November 11, 2022

Cold and lonely: does social exclusion literally feel cold?

Chen-Bo Zhong¹, Geoffrey J Leonardelli

¹University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. chenbo.zhong@rotman.utoronto.ca

Psychological Science

|October 25, 2008

Summary

Social exclusion literally feels cold, not just metaphorical. Studies show excluded individuals perceive lower temperatures and desire warm items, supporting embodied cognition.

Area of Science:

Psychology
Cognitive Science
Social Psychology

Background:

Social exclusion is often described metaphorically using cold-related terms.
Previous research has not empirically tested the literal perception of cold during social exclusion.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether social exclusion is literally associated with a feeling of coldness.
To explore the embodied cognition link between social and physical sensations.

Main Methods:

Experiment 1: Participants recalled past social exclusion or inclusion experiences and estimated room temperature.
Experiment 2: Social exclusion was induced via a virtual interaction, followed by assessing desire for warm food/drink.

Main Results:

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Recalling social exclusion led to lower perceived room temperature compared to inclusion.
Socially excluded participants reported a greater desire for warm food and drink.

Conclusions:

The psychological experience of coldness is an integral part of social exclusion.
Findings support the embodied cognition theory, suggesting social perception involves physical sensations.