How to win friends with coffee

A new study from the United States shows people will receive others more kindly while holding a hot drink rather than a cold one.

A new study from the United States shows people will receive others more kindly while holding a hot drink rather than a cold one.

Researches provided 41 undergraduate students with a cup of hot coffee or iced coffee, and were told it did not relate to the experiment. Once in the testing area, the volunteers were shown a list of personality traits from a fictional person, and were asked to rate the person as how “warm” or “cold” they perceived that person to be.

Volunteers drinking hot coffee described the person as “warmer,” meaning more trust-worthy, more than the volunteers holding a cold drink.

Psychologist John Bargh from Yale University told itnews.com.au the experiment demonstrates how physical temperature can alter a person’s personality traits as well.

“Physical warmth can make us see others as warmer people, but also cause us to be warmer, more generous and trusting as well.”