Of the people who had handled the hot pad, 54% chose a reward to share with a friend, and 46% picked a reward for themselves. Among those who had touched the cold pad, 25% selected a reward meant for sharing, and 75% chose an item for themselves.
"Physical warmth can make us see others as warmer people but can also cause us to be warmer -- more generous and trusting -- as well," Bargh said.
Researchers postulated that the association between temperature and emotional warmth begins in infancy, when the physical warmth of being held is connected to food, safety and love. Later in life, a hot cup of coffee or a warm bath might activate memories of those feelings, they said.
But Piotr Winkielman, a psychology professor at UC San Diego, questioned whether the experiment actually tapped an emotional pool. Only a brain scan would reveal that, he said.
"Is there emotion involved? Or is it just a thought floating in their heads?" he asked.
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denise.gellene@latimes.com
