Popsicles or hot cocoa? A day at the beach or a day in bed? These questions represent dilemmas that may come to mind when thinking of the change in weather, and the small perks that come with the extremes of different temperatures. Some have decided that they love to bask in the warmth of sunshine (which is not uncommon in California), while others have decided that they love the sight of falling white crystals or the sensation of a cool, refreshing breeze. What makes a person partial to cold or hot weather? Is there a scientific reason behind this phenomenon? Or, is it really just simply a matter of preference?

Naturally, if someone grows up in an area with cold or hot weather, they are more likely to be inclined to whichever one they are accustomed to. A person who grows up in California may suffer greatly in the cold of Massachusetts,  while a person who grows up in Massachusetts may absolutely melt in the heat of California. This type of reaction is simply a matter of what one is used to, although there are exceptions. 

However, preference of cold or hot weather has also been shown to correlate with personality and income. According to New York Post, people on the introverted side tend to “prefer cats to dogs and like to be the little spoon when cuddling,” as well as preferring “a city break over a beach vacation.” In contrast, those on the extroverted side “prefer being the big spoon when cuddling and prioritize family time while on vacation,” as well as ideally preferring “a beach or warm weather vacation.” One’s birthday can also affect their preference, as birthdays have been shown to affect other psychological matters as well. Additionally, those who enjoy warm weather tend to make about $4,000 less than those who enjoy cold weather. The slight irony in this is that a study conducted by OnePoll and Vayama on Americans concluded that cold weather enjoyers “like to stay indoors” and “enjoy listening to classical music,” while warm weather enjoyers “listen to pop and hip-hop” and seem to have to spend more money by enjoying outside activities. Unsurprisingly, warm-weathered people identify as outgoing and confident, while cold-weathered pe0ple identify as shy, quiet, and sarcastic (New York Post). Needless to say, this makes sense considering that warm-weathered people prefer active and outdoor vacations, while cold-weathered people prefer low-energy and indoor activities. 

Along with familiarity and personality, there are also biological factors that come into preference of cold or hot weather. Certain body types are more prone to sweating easily and in great amounts, while others might have poor circulation and cause the body’s extremities to be more sensitive to the cold. Discomfort can often sway people to one side or the other, basing their preference of weather on which type is most kind to their senses. Depending on a person’s tolerance of either extreme, they are most likely to be partial to the one that they have a stronger tolerance for.

Finally, many prefer cold or hot weather due to the aesthetics and festivities that come with each season. Yuhan (Cara) Tang (11) says, “I like warmer weather because I can go outside often and appreciate nature, like during spring days.” She enjoys “when flowers are blooming,” and since she does not “have warm clothes for winter” that adds to her preference of warm weather. Like Yuhan (Cara) Tang (11) mentioned, fashion and convenience also affect people’s preference of cold or hot weather. In conclusion, there are many different factors that contribute to one’s preference of cold or hot weather; the preference of cold or hot weather consists of  deeper reasoning than a simple opinion, and is an interesting subject one should contemplate while experiencing the last changes of weather this year.