Research of Interest -- on Feeling Cold

I just ran across a study that could have implications for RT. It is on feeling cold. The study raises questions that RTs and RT scholars may wish to pursue.

“Cold and Lonely: Does Social Exclusion Literally Feel Cold?” by Zhong and Leonardelli, appeared in the September 2008 issue (Vol 19, No 9, pp. 838-842) of Psychological Science.

This research is on the idea that social exclusion literally feels cold. Two different experiments suggest that it does! These findings complement earlier studies related to cold and exclusion.

The findings raise questions as to if warmth may overcome negative feelings of social exclusion or whether coldness can lead to feeling socially rejected. Or perhaps there is a connection between coldness and other disorders, such as seasonal affective disorder or feelings of depression.

Some RT researchers may wish to take a look at Zhong and Leonardelli’s study. It would seem that the connection between cold, warmth, and affect would be of a great deal of interest to the field of recreational therapy where we have long attempted to provide “warm, caring environments.”