Members in the Media
From: The New York Times

New York Today: How Warm Weather Affects Our Behavior

The New York Times:

Good morning on this beautiful Friday.

This week, we’ve observed some odd behavior for February: people sunbathing in Washington Square Park, passers-by in shorts sipping iced coffee and commuters lining up near empty Citi Bike racks.

Which got us thinking: How does warm weather affect our behavior?

“Studies have shown that pleasant weather is associated with a few positive shifts in behavior,” said Vinita Mehta, a clinical psychologist practicing in Washington.

We asked her to guide us through some of the research.

Participants in a 2008 study in Germany kept a daily journal of their well-being, while data from nearby weather stations was collected. The researchers found that some negative moods decreased with sunlight and better weather. “What’s really interesting here,” Dr. Mehta said, “is that the researchers found that not only sunlight, but weather conditions like wind, can affect your mood as well.”

Read the whole story: The New York Times

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