Research news: Cold shoulder really is chilling

The News:
Cold shoulder really is chilling
Scientists say those who feel isolated or rejected sense that they're colder.
By Denise GelleneLos Angeles Times
Article Created: 09/19/2008 11:28:51 PM MDT
Social isolation is often described as "cold and lonely" — but does it actually feel cold?
New research says the answer is yes. Just thinking about rejection can make a room feel chillier, according to a report in the journal Psychological Science.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto, also found people who felt isolated preferred warm drinks over cold ones — presumably to make themselves feel better.
The research shows there is a psychological basis behind metaphors linking cold temperatures to feelings of loneliness, despair or sadness, said psychologist and lead author Chen-Bo Zhong.
"Our mind is not independent of our body," he said. "Perceptions we think of as purely cognitive also involve physical perceptions."
The initial experiment involved 65 subjects. Half were instructed to think about a time when they felt socially isolated, while remaining subjects were told to recall a time when they felt accepted.
When asked to estimate the temperature of the room, people assigned to ruminate about rejection said 71 degrees, about 5 degrees cooler than the temperature given by the second group. Read on...

The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Psychological Science.