Does the weather affect human behaviour?

A few weeks ago, a video of an Austrian news presenter pouring water over his head live on air went viral. The act was over a United Nations report stating that the past few days had been the hottest ever recorded, with temperatures in Vienna surpassing 37 degrees Celsius.

The video made people wonder how hot weather can impact human behaviour. Psychologists concerned with studying the impact of the weather on human behaviour suggest that high temperatures can lead to strange and even violent actions.

There are several studies suggesting that higher temperatures increase the rate of crimes and violence. Experiments conducted on individuals placed in rooms with varying temperatures showed that hotter environments increase their aggression and make them more prone to being provoked.

Other studies showed that countries experiencing higher temperatures tend to be more prone to violent crimes as an increase in temperature by just one degree Celsius can lead to a rise of up to six per cent in violent crimes. However, it is important to consider other factors related to criminal behaviour such as upbringing, economic status, education level, and unemployment.

Other studies found that when people are exposed to high temperatures, they tend to be in a bad mood and less cooperative. This could be attributed to feelings of fatigue, exhaustion, dehydration, and depressive symptoms caused by the hot weather, which also affects productivity in the workplace.

High temperatures are also believed to affect our memory, attention, healthy sleep patterns, and exacerbation of psychological symptoms. So, what can be done? Apart from staying in cooler places like air-conditioned rooms, which may not be an option for people living in countries experiencing frequent power cuts or for workers whose jobs demand that they work outdoors.

Psychologists recommend that you try to identify what makes you feel uncomfortable or tense. Is it crowded restaurants or waiting in long lines at the bank or the supermarket? When possible, try avoiding a potentially heated reaction by visiting banks and restaurants during less busy hours. Do you get overwhelmed when you have spent too much time around certain people? Try building in breaks, setting a limit on the amount of time you spend with those people, or making sure “safe” people are with you who can buffer the impact of people who trigger you.

Behavioural techniques like abdominal breathing and mindful absorptive meditation can help you control the anger that can lead to violence, especially in hot weather.

Make sure you drink plenty of water and juices, eat fresh vegetables, fish, and a diet rich in omega-3, vitamins, and good fats such as avocado and olive oil as they improve brain strength and make you emotionally balanced, so you think in a rational way, and you become less likely to exhibit violence and irritability.

Having adequate night sleep and avoiding napping during the day is also essential to stay in a relaxed mood. If possible, avoid going out during midday when the heat is expected to be at its peak, and have frequent cold showers to keep your body temperature low. Wear light clothes with bright colours that are less likely to absorb the heat and remember to take a bottle of water with you when you are out and about.