Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
10:07
Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds
Published on: November 6, 2015
Temper, temperature, and temptation: heat-related retaliation in baseball
Richard P Larrick1, Thomas A Timmerman, Andrew M Carton
1Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. larrick@duke.edu
Psychological Science
|February 26, 2011
Summary
High temperatures increase the chance of pitchers hitting batters, especially when their teammates were previously hit. This suggests heat fuels retaliation in baseball games.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Psychology
- Data Analysis
Background:
- Baseball involves strategic interactions between pitchers and batters.
- Player behavior can be influenced by environmental factors like temperature.
- Retaliation is a known, albeit unwritten, element in sports dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between high temperatures and hit-by-pitch incidents in Major League Baseball.
- To determine if provocation, specifically teammates being hit, exacerbates this relationship.
- To explore the psychological mechanisms behind temperature-influenced retaliation in baseball.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a large dataset comprising 57,293 Major League Baseball games.
- Statistical modeling to control for various confounding variables.
- Examination of the interaction between game temperature and prior hit-by-pitch events.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in the probability of a pitcher hitting a batter was observed at high temperatures.
- This effect was amplified when multiple teammates had been hit by the opposing team earlier in the game.
- High temperatures appear to moderate the likelihood of retaliatory hit-by-pitch events.
Conclusions:
- High temperatures likely increase retaliation in baseball by heightening hostile attributions when teammates are hit.
- Elevated temperatures may also lower inhibitions against retaliatory actions by pitchers.
- Environmental heat is a significant factor influencing aggressive behavior and game dynamics in professional baseball.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:07Body Temperature
Body temperature reflects the equilibrium between heat production and heat loss within the body. Most heat is generated by metabolically active tissues, particularly the liver, heart, brain, kidneys, and endocrine organs. At rest, skeletal muscles contribute 20–30% of total heat production, but during vigorous exercise, this can increase up to 30–40 times.
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C (97–99°F), remaining relatively stable...
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C (97–99°F), remaining relatively stable...
01:25Body Temperature
The body's temperature, measured in degrees, is determined by the balance between heat production and dissipation to the surrounding environment. For instance, if exercising vigorously, the body will produce more heat, causing sweat and dissipating that heat. Despite extreme environmental conditions and physical exertion, the human temperature-control system maintains a constant core body temperature (the temperature of deep tissues, which are the tissues located beneath the skin and other...
01:28Factors Affecting Body Temperature
As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may include:
Factors may include:
01:25Increased Body Temperature
A body temperature above 38°C (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.
01:19Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature
Hyperthermia occurs when the body's temperature becomes unusually high, often due to heat exposure, intense physical activity, or certain illnesses. This condition can create a dangerous cycle where elevated body temperature increases the metabolic rate, generating more heat and potentially leading to organ failure and brain damage. A severe form of hyperthermia, called heat stroke, can raise body temperature to life-threatening levels. Fever, on the other hand, is a controlled form of...
01:43Thermosensation
Peripheral thermosensation is the perception of external temperature. A change in temperature (on the surface of the skin and other tissues) is detected by a family of temperature-sensitive ion channels called Transient Receptor Potential, or TRP, receptors. These receptors are located on free nerve endings. Those detecting cold temperatures are closer to the surface of the skin than the nerve endings detecting warmth. These thermoTRP channels, while temperature selective, have relatively...