Does the behaviour of humans change with the climate or temperature?

Question

I have noticed that people in hot countries have less patience..or they are a bit more arrogant ( I know its a bit of a generalisation), than the ones live in countried with a mild or cold climate.. Do we see more wars fought in those areas as well. I tend to say yes by looking at the current picture..any ideas?

GSP 10067: Thanks for bringing some interesting facts into this. I think the loudness, or the arrogance we see in the western world is nothing if you saw how impatient people are in hot countries, i was holidaying in asia and i could nt believe how ruthless , impatient, reckless, the driving was and when you queue up in the post office or a bank the way they just jump the queue was appaling.We hardly find that here. However the unbelievable hospitality they have is unparelelled.So this mixture of impatient, and laid back behaviours intrigue me..The word Culture comes to mind but not quite sure where it fits in.

Answer 1

Yes, people's behaviour, and thus their perceived temperament, differs by environment.

Thus what a person may do in 1 place, they wouldn't possibly feel was natural and thus inclined to do so, in a different climate. Then there are the socialisation processes, where we assimilate into our cultures and tend to behave more like others in the same area, in similar circumstances.

This is an unseen but very strong invisible force that helps define our behaviour and is similar to the person who displays and feels strong levels of confidence in 1 situation - say with their mates, but gets very nervous in a different situation, such as a work interview. People can be hugely enabled or restricted in their behaviour, just by their surroundings.

People are much more capable of behavioural variations than they realise, but often their behaviour sticks in a rut, habituation sets in, and becomes context dependent, though we have total freedom for change.

People are very adaptable and chameleon-like and easily pick up on the more 'acceptable' forms of behaviour as well as their behaviour that doesn't fit in or is frowned upon.

So, yes we change by environment and weather variations, largely cultural norms and there is probably something genetic that has developed, favouring people of certain genetic makeup versus another, for each type of country or region.

In any event, there is enormous social pressure for us to conform, so we get the norms for each place becoming consolidated as the 'musts' and outsiders can feel very different or excluded.

Compare warmer southern California and the colder north east of the USA, the former with a laid-back vibe, the latter is faster and brasher. Even within a country there are marked variations, that undoubtedly have some influence from the local climate.

Good luck! Rob

Answer 2

I think it has more to do with culture and a wider range of issues than just weather. When you consider the Caribbean (particularly Trinidad and Tobago) - typically recognized for its tropical weather - a lot of the people are very easy going, welcoming, accepting and warm hearted. And the Caribbean is either hot or rainy. There is no cold weather. The coldest I ever experienced in Trinidad was probably 21 degrees celcius.

Not to mention, the Caribbean has not had any wars. There's politics, but no war.

It is possible that the link has more to do with the comfort level with the weather as well as cultural attitudes. In the Caribbean people dress for the warm weather - light clothes, jeans or shorts. In some Asian countries it is the culture to dress modestly, with several layers of clothing, sometimes in dark colors. People can't be comfortable in that.

Also, some cultures may be less tolerant and some societies may have much more stress, especially when it comes to financial and economic stability. If someone is stressed because they are working all day in the hot sun with several layers of clothing and very little money to show for it - I doubt they'll have a very pleasant disposition.

So perhaps you need to focus on the many different issues involved if you want to come up with a real psychological analysis, because people's attitudes are not solely based on the weather, no matter where you go.

Answer 3

For those of us like myself, living here in London, in the "temperate zone", it is all too easy to understand what happens when we humans begin to over heat. The London Underground, which has no airconditioning, regularly over heats in the Summer months of June, July and August.

When temperatures rise above 75 Farenheit, people start to get 'hot and botherd', they become irritable, especially when stuck in over crowded situations, which is often the case in major cities.

People living in crowded cities should carry a bottle of water with them at all times, especially if using under ground trains and crowded buses. Stay cool by wearing light loose fitting clothing.

Is it true that people living in hot countries fight more wars? I'm not really sure about this, because England is not noted for it's 'hot climate' but instead enjoys a mild temperate climate for most of the time, with only the very occasional 'freeze'. The hottest a Summer's day is likely to get in England is about 90 Farenheit on average and usually a lot less. The English or more correctly, the British, are not known for their peace loving history but more for their history of warfare.

King Henry VIII once described his three million English subjects, as "My Savage Subjects". He had a point. There can be hardly a spot anywhere on the Globe where the British have not fought a war with someone and in so doing managed to create the World's largest ever known empire, which covered one fifth of the Earth's land-mass.

Even after all of this, the British still fight in wars.

Answer 4

And in UK we get a lot of SAD sufferers during the winter months through lack of daylight hours and sunshine, I am definitely more grumpy during the winter than in the summer and I believe there is a lot more depression during the colder months, particularly after the New Year has passed and before Spring arrives. So yes I do think temperature plays a part in human behaviour but I may not necessarily agree with your own observations.

Answer 5

Interesting question. I've also found that people in equatorial climates are more hospitable and laid back. There's also a definate correlation between biodiversity (higher in hot, equatorial regions) and cultural diversity(also higher in hot, equatroial regions). A quick glance at the news though will show that more strife and violence also tends to take place in the hot regions of the world. Could this be due to higher cultural diversity (more inter-ethnic conflict) Poverty (equatorial countries tend to be poorer) or just biased western media coverage ('tribal' conflicts sell newspapers). I don't know! But I do know that I've been treated very well whenever I've been to hot countries!!

Answer 6

Your original question is quite interesting - does human behaviour change with temperature. However, the rest of what you say is, as you yourself admit, a huge generalisation.

The evidence/questions to the contrary I would ask you to consider would be as follows:

What about the stereotype of West Indians/Caribbeans being extremely laid back?
What about all the people in the Indian subcontinent - famed for politeness, and the country/religion that invented vegetarianism thousands of years ago because they don't have the heart to kill animals - hardly aggressive behaviour is it?
More arrogant? - surely the Americans and British are known throughout the world for being arrogant and having a superiority complex respectively...
Ever been to a Spanish Costa? The locals are very chilled out and laid back - the Brits on holiday are loud, aggressive drunks - and notorious for it.

Do we see more wars fought in whichever countries you have in mind due to climate, or poverty? Is it because those countries with the cooler climates (such as in Europe) were more aggressive historically and plundered the natural resources and wealth of the hot countries leaving problems with poverty?

Weren't the only 2 WORLD wars ever fought caused by countries in Europe?

Answer 7

This is also generalisation but I have noticed that people who do not come or have not lived in hot and humid countries have a change in behaviour. My thoughts on it are they are dehydrated which makes you irritable. You will also notice these people do go out in the mid day sun. Not a clever thing to do. But my travels have taken me all over the globe and I have found that people who are content with their lot, not striving for gain, are the least aggressive. Temperature did not come into it.

Answer 8

I am agree with u climate or temperature changes the behaviour of humans. It is a scientific and practical thing. What is the difference between the plea sent evening wind and hot air of noon under the temperature 45+ degree. Just think

Answer 9

I think yes, but it depends on what temperature they are experimenting, and their conditions to confront it ...because the extrem temperatures: too hot or too cold may affect in any way the behaviour of someone if he/her does not have in example the appropriate clothes to cover their bodies, or enought water to calm their thirst or x thing to confront the situation.

Maybe the wars are developped in those countries just for military strategie...the cold temperature may be an enemy for both sides...so the nature would win the war over the warriors.

If you see the historic data of liberty of american countries, you may find that the major of them took place during part of the summer (May, June, July, August)... Venezuela June 24, ...and many others ...just strategie...

Answer 10

Personnally I feel much happier when it is hot and sunny.
Winter is just about bearable if it is dry and bright but a dull, wet winter makes me want to hibernate until summer.
Scandinavia has a high suicide rate in the winter due to SAD (winter depression).
Perhaps in the colder countries everyone is in bed keeping warm.
Perhaps in the hotter countries tribes fight whereas in UK football supporters fight rival supporters and fights break out after drinking binges on Friday or Saturday evenings. It's the same thing really.
The Scandinavians are also very good at channelling their agression in a non-violent way. They produce excellent racing & rally drivers, death metal bands etc.