Why Clingy People Feel Colder

TIME:

An icy stare may do more than just chill your heart metaphorically — it can literally change the way you perceive ambient temperature, making a room feel several degrees colder. This cooling effect is most pronounced in people who tend to be anxious in their relationships, new research finds.

For the study published in Psychological Science, psychologist Matthew Vess of Ohio University recruited 56 adults online. Participants took a test that examined their so-called attachment style, basically whether they felt comfortable in their relationships with others or whether they were more anxious and avoidant.

Half the group was asked to contemplate a past romantic break-up while the rest were urged to think about an ordinary event that wasn’t emotionally charged. Then, all the participants rated the desirability of various food items: some traditionally warm (like soup, tea or coffee) and some neutral in temperature (crackers or candy bars).

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