Replication of "Experiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal Warmth" by Williams and Bargh (2008)

We report the results of three high-powered, independent replications of Study 2 from Williams and Bargh (2008). Participants evaluated hot or cold instant therapeutic packs before choosing a reward for participation that was framed as a prosocial (i.e., treat for a friend) or self-interested reward...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social psychology (Göttingen, Germany) Germany), 2014, Vol.45 (3), p.216-222
Main Authors: Lynott, Dermot, Corker, Katherine S., Wortman, Jessica, Connell, Louise, Donnellan, M. Brent, Lucas, Richard E., O'Brien, Kerry
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cognition
Experimental Replication
Female
Human
Male
Prosocial Behavior
Responses
Social Cognition
Temperature Effects
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Summary:We report the results of three high-powered, independent replications of Study 2 from Williams and Bargh (2008). Participants evaluated hot or cold instant therapeutic packs before choosing a reward for participation that was framed as a prosocial (i.e., treat for a friend) or self-interested reward (i.e., treat for the self). Williams and Bargh predicted that evaluating the hot pack would lead to a higher probability of making a prosocial choice compared to evaluating the cold pack. We did not replicate the effect in any individual laboratory or when considering the results of the three replications together (total N = 861). We conclude that there is no evidence that brief exposure to warm therapeutic packs induces greater prosocial responding than exposure to cold therapeutic packs.
ISSN:1864-9335
2151-2590
DOI:10.1027/1864-9335/a000187