Dimming the lights is usually considered a romantic move, but it might also be a sensible one: Turning down the lights could help you navigate decisions more rationally, suggests a recent study out of the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) and Northwestern University.
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Researchers conducted a series of six experiments, all designed to explore the effects of bright light. What the researchers found: “Light increases people's perception of ambient warmth,” they wrote in the study, “which in turn activates their hot emotional system, leading to intensified affective reactions—positive and negative—to different kinds of stimuli.”
You make a whole lot of decisions every day—and based on these study results, the brightness of the room you’re in could be impacting your emotions and, therefore, your choices. “These findings suggest a simple way to nudge people into being less emotional—by simply turning the lights down,” write the study authors.
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So when should you consider pulling down the blinds or giving your dimmer a little bump?
Workplace Disagreements
We all have to deal with disputes on the job—it’s part of working with a team. But sometimes it’s hard not to let your emotions get in the way, especially if you feel like the other person is trying to get you going. In one of the study’s experiments, participants perceived the aggressive behavior of a character in a commercial script as less aggressive in dimmer lights, says Alison Jing Xu, Ph.D., co-author of the study and assistant professor of management at UTSC and the Rotman School of Management. That suggests that drawing the shades during your next office conflict could help you react more positively toward the person with whom you’re talking—which in turn can help you come up with a smarter plan of attack.
Fights with Your Partner
Your S.O. forgot to take the trash out or even forgot your anniversary, and you want to talk to him or her about how upset you are. Dim the lights before you broach the subject. “That might help couples cool down, think about what’s going on, and clarify each other’s points-of-view,” says Xu.
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When You’re About to Treat Yourself
In another one of the study’s experiments, when the lights were bright, participants drank more of a good-tasting juice. So say you’re thinking about snacking on some cake, says Xu. When the lights are bright, your emotions get involved—and nudge you toward eating a slice (because, hello, it’s delicious). Keep the lights dim, though, and you’ll likely be more reasonable about when you should stop and save the rest for later, says Xu.
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