Climate and temperature may influence individual behaviors, but not all social scientists agree. For example, Montesquieu argued that cold weather made people more active, while heat rendered people passive. Cold weather makes us more generous and sentimental, while heat drains us of our vigor and sense of generosity. That’s why he noted that Indians needed cold weather more than Europeans did. If this connection is true, then climate and temperature might explain why some people act more violently.
Evidence linking weather and climate to human behavior
In recent years, evidence linking weather and climate to human behavior has become more sophisticated. Some scientists have begun to quantify the effects of extreme weather events on human behavior. The effects of winter weather on people are more likely to be offset by summer warmth, and the opposite is true for vice versa. In other studies, the effect of hot weather is more likely to be counteracted by the effects of high humidity. This has important implications for human behavior.
There is also strong evidence that warm temperatures increase aggression. In the United States, for example, hot days are associated with an increase in violent crimes. Warmer southern states are more likely to experience violent crimes. Furthermore, climate patterns such as the El Nino and La Nina events are associated with civil conflicts. The study concluded that a strong correlation between climate and human behavior is not only theorized but also real.
The timeframes for the impact of climate-related hazards on human behavior are extremely variable. Researchers have found that psychological disorders peak within six months after an event. Other studies, such as Azuma et al., have documented an increase in suicide rates in communities with higher climate variability. In addition, Dodgen et al. noted an increase in homicide-suicides following Hurricane Andrew and other extreme weather events.
Effects of rapid climate change on violent crime
The study suggests that climate change is negatively impacting violent crime in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods. It has been found that violent crime increases during warm months but decreases during cold months. The strongest correlation was found in St. Louis, where the number of violent crimes increased by 3.6 percent between 1995 and 2008.
While this study is descriptive and exploratory, it does not settle the debate over the cause of climate change and violent crime. The authors discuss the theoretical implications of the findings, and they stress that the relationship is more significant in disadvantaged neighborhoods than in affluent areas. A single-degree increase in temperatures leads to an increase in violent crimes in most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Furthermore, in the worst-affected neighborhoods, climate change-induced violence is projected to increase by more than five times by the end of the century.
This study used a statistical method to compare the increase in crime and temperature in different neighborhoods across the United States. The researchers incorporated regional climate and crime rates, as well as temperature anomalies over 34 years. They also used established climate models, which reflect a range of scientific uncertainty. To assess whether or not climate change is already affecting violent crime, the researchers used two scenarios, the “middle of the road” climate model and the “business as usual” climate model.
In a previous study, researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Climate Assessment Institute estimated that climate change was associated with an increase in violent crime. They found that a one-degree Celsius increase in global temperatures was associated with an increase of 6% in homicidal crimes. In addition, the study showed that uncomfortably hot weather kept people indoors and increased mischief. It was also estimated that increased violent crime rates remained relatively steady.
Increasing temperatures and more severe weather events are known to increase the risk of violence. Moreover, rising temperatures also increase the risk of domestic violence. As a result, environmental scientists agree that climate change is a serious problem and the impacts will be global in scope. The authors also identified subtler psychological consequences of climate change, including the rise in violent conflict and aggression. A growing body of evidence indicates that rapid global warming is increasing violent behavior.
Impact of extreme temperatures on tempers
Climate change has been linked to an increase in conflict, according to a study conducted at the University of California. The researchers tracked over six thousand episodes of human conflict over several centuries and found that increased temperatures were related to heightened levels of violence. In addition, increased temperatures were related to lower rainfall, which is linked to a higher likelihood of drought. A correlation was also found between individuals and groups of people who were influenced by climate change.
In contrast, in regions that have a high average annual temperature, two-thirds of the population suffers from heat-related violence. However, the annual number of days with such extreme temperature bins is only 0.97. In this context, the impact of heat is greatest in the 25-28degC temperature bin. The authors suggest that people may be more violent when they feel uncomfortable. To test this hypothesis, they conducted a series of laboratory studies where undergraduate participants took measures of their aggression in comfortable temperatures.
These studies indicate that heat affects people’s emotions, and are associated with increased levels of aggression. According to Goldstein, hot temperatures increase the risk of conflict. Heat increases anger, and cold weather decreases alertness and energy levels. But, the opposite effect of cold weather is equally pronounced. Cold weather reduces the incidence of conflict, and tempers cool down. This finding is particularly relevant in war-torn regions of Africa and Latin America.
Research has shown that people are more violent when they feel uncomfortable, and they may be more likely to attack others. The correlation between hot and cold temperatures and violent mortality has been demonstrated by a variety of other research. One such study in Chicago looked at the link between weather and the rate of shootings. It found that higher temperatures tended to result in greater numbers of violent crimes than in cooler weather. But the relationship between temperature and violence is not as simple as these two findings suggest.
Impact of extreme cold on irritability
The impact of extreme cold on irritability is widely recognized in the social sciences and is a key factor in understanding how human behavior responds to a particular climate. While the relationship between average annual temperature and violent acts is weak, it is clear that irritability and anger tend to increase during cold periods. The cold effect may also be associated with depression. Further research is needed to determine the specific role of these variables.
Extreme cold is also known to increase hemoglobin and hematocrit in the blood, which can lead to irritability. The human spleen is a specialized organ that sequesters approximately 200 to 250 mL of densely packed red blood cells. In times of stress or hypothermia, the spleen contracts, increasing blood oxygen transport and viscosity. This mechanism is mediated by the a-adrenoreceptors and increases blood viscosity by 2% per degree Centigrade of temperature.
