How much does the weather affect our mood and behavior?
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.
-John Ruskin
Of course he thinks that but I think it is a bit more complex than that? Let's find out!
Story Time...
Once me and @sjennon were in the train and I was especially chatty. It was a sunny day and the warm sunlight was touching my face through the window just enough to drive me to ecstasy. Of course I did not notice this change of behavior, but @sjennon pointed it out and I realized my mood gets significantly better as the weather gets better.
While this seems like a small thing, there have been thousands of studies showing different and more drastic impact of weather on the behavior of people. Did you know that there is a literally a condition called SAD (Seasonal affective disorder ). While this is rare but people who have this affliction experience significant drop in their mood and their well being and this is not just for the people who have this affliction. Even for the people who do not have this might experience an unexplained moodiness. Source
Can it lead to an increase in violence?
You bet! Source: "Analyzing data from 60 earlier studies, Solomon Hsiang from the University of California, Berkeley, found that warmer temperatures and extremes in rainfall can substantially increase the risk of many types of conflict. For every standard deviation of change, levels of interpersonal violence, such as domestic violence or rape, rise by some 4 percent, while the frequency of intergroup conflict, from riots to civil wars, rise by 14 percent. Global temperatures are expected to rise by at least two standard deviations by 2050, with even bigger increases in the tropics."
Kinda makes sense as to why will the third world war ever happen ;-) Sorry, not funny. Or you know, why the crime rate in India is so higher than Europe. I mean it is definitely not the main reason, but it probably does account for 2% of the reason.
Does change in weather parameters like sunlight, temperature, humidity etc affect everyone?
There was a study published in the journal Emotion where they took several candidates, some already had a positive mood and some had a negative mood going on. They were subjected to six main types of weather parameters namely (temperature, wind power, sunlight, precipitation, air pressure, and photoperiod. One significant finding was that the change in these parameters did not quite affect the people who were already in a positive mood. On the other hand each one of these parameters had a significant and different impact on the people who had a negative mood already.
Maybe it is okay to conclude that weather is more likely to mess with you or impact you any significant way if you are already in a negative mood. Sometimes we do not even realize that we are not in the best of spirits till something awesome like sunshine comes along.
Of course many studies might say that matured people do not let weather affect their behavioral aspects or mood in any way but hey, beaches can put a smile on any face in the world. Unless you are a total weirdo. Or you know, if you are locked up in Guantanamo Bay. Cause, well, prison you know.
Something to think about?
Written by @things, 2018. All rights reserved.
I am always in a happy mood, I like to refer to the law of attraction. I believe and know I am happy and joyful, so rain or shine I feel great. but when I do get down or have some bad times I just remember how blessed I am and go back to being chill and happy. but if it's super cold I am in an ok mood not the best but still positive, can't stand the cold.
I get you. You really are blessed if you are able to maintain your optimism and joy through anything. I should learn how to do that.
It took me a long time to get to this way, even during my year in the military to maintain a positive attitude. but some good books I read to help me out is, as a man thinkth, and if you watch the movie the secret on Netflix it can help. Have you seen that movie?
I have not, but I will now I guess.
Yes you are right the affects the mood of the person
I'm also suffering from this each whether changes my mood
Delhi weather has been affecting me badly. I've seen a drop in my energy levels, positivity and confidence compared to how it was in Mangalore. So I am a chalta phirta proof of this post. :P
That really sucks man. Leave that city for reals. I mean let aside weather, the pollution itself is enough to destroy someone. But seriously that city can bring out the worst in anyone. I hope you feel better:-(
I think its effects are huge, for example I am a very light sleeper with bouts of insomnia, when it rains at night I can't sleep at all, and the next day I feel drained, so rain at night has a direct effect on me. Especially last night, heavy rain and I wanted to see the moon's activities, I got to see nothing and now I'm upset, all because of the rain.
Aw well that is sad. At that same time when people in drought areas see rain, for them it is like gold dripping from the sky. Hehhe, perspective right? I am sorry to hear about your experience though.
You are right, what is good for some might not be so good for others.
Saya pikir cuaca tidak akan mempengaruhi konflik kriminalitas. Konflik terjadi ketika seseorang tidak mampu mengendalikan kemarahannya bukan karena cuaca, melainkan cuacanya dan pikirannya yang buruk.😀😀😀👍😀
Beautiful Photos..!!
Thank you.
That’s true... windy and cloudy days really make me feel upset. Interesting information, I will also talk about it in future posts so we could keep in contact! ☺️
Yes of course <3
I’m very glad I started following you, because your post has really good info
I am glad you liked it. Thank you.
I’d say quite a lot as sometimes rainy days get me down..
Yes, when its cold as hell and then it rains, it feels like the whole universe is against us.
Weather actually affects the mood and temper of a lot of people, on a slight level. If you're stressed out on a hot day, in my country, most times its understandable.