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December 2, 2008 8:43:56 PM CST

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'Social Siberia' Isn't Just a Metaphor

Posted Sep 16, 08 2:22 PM CDT in Science & Health 

(Newser) – Icy stares and chilly receptions can leave you feeling—well, cold. Metaphors about social behavior, like "warm welcome" and "cold shoulder," seem to relate to physical reality, new research finds. People who had experienced and recalled social rejection perceived a 5-degree temperature drop in the lab and experienced hot food cravings, the New York Times reports.

"We know that being excluded is psychologically painful, and here we found that it feels just like it's described," says the study's lead author. Another psychologist said the results make "perfect sense," because the same brain region tracks temperature and mental states.

Source New York Times

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People feeling social rejection crave hot foods, a study has found.   (Magnum Photos)
Social isolation is real, researchers say--so real that experiencing it can create a craving for literal warmth.   (Magnum Photos)
A chilly reception literally drops body temperature, the study shows.   (Shutter stock)
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