Behavioural Economics Primer: Hot-cold empathy gap

This article provides an overview of the behavioural economics concept of the hot-cold empathy gap, our tendency to underestimate how our preferences will change when in either a 'hot' or 'cold' emotional state.

Behavioural Economics Primer: Hot-cold empathy gap

Crawford Hollingworth The Behavioural Architects

Behavioural economics

This article is part of Warc's Behavioural Economics Primer.

The hot-cold empathy gap is the tendency to underestimate how our preferences will change when in either a 'hot' or 'cold' emotional state:

  • A 'cold' state is where we are calm, collected, sensible and rational
  • A 'hot' state is where we are emotional, excited, angry, hungry, in pain or aroused in some way.

As our state of mind changes, something we might previously have found unappealing might become irresistible. This is known as going from...

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