The psychology of thermoregulation: A coordinating mechanisms approach

• We propose thermal affect adjusts cognitive activity to support homeostasis. • We apply an evolutionary task analysis to thermal affect. • We generate new hypotheses about how thermal affect influences cognition. • We hope this paper stimulates research on the psychology of thermoregulation. Temperature is more than just the background setting of daily life—it shapes what we think, feel, and do. Drawing from the theory of emotions as coordinating mechanisms, we propose that thermal affect influences key psychological systems such as attention, memory, perception, and motivation in service of solving critical thermal challenges. Through an evolutionary task analysis, we generate a variety of testable predictions regarding the interplay of temperature, human cognition, and behavior. We hope that this manuscript contributes to the psychology of thermoregulation, a notably understudied area of research despite its importance to both basic and applied science.