Cold States

What are Cold States?

A cold state is a condition in which a particular intense visceral influence, such as hunger, craving, or anger, is weak or absent. The term is relative to the influence being considered; it does not mean that the person has no emotions.

Why it matters

Loewenstein’s account of visceral influences proposes that people can underestimate an influence when they are not currently experiencing it. A person who is comfortable and rested may misjudge how they will respond when tired or distressed. This mismatch is part of the hot-cold empathy gap.

Illustrative example

Someone who has just eaten may predict little interest in food later, without adequately allowing for renewed hunger. The change in state can make the earlier forecast inaccurate.

Planning Across Hot and Cold States

When making a plan, consider the state in which you will need to carry it out. A plan made after a meal may need to account for what happens when you are hungry. A precommitment is one possible response, but its value depends on the goal and the person; the state distinction alone does not establish that it will help.

Limits

Cold states are not automatically more rational or objective. Hunger, pain, and other bodily states can contain information relevant to a decision. The research question is whether the person correctly anticipates or incorporates that information, not whether emotion is present at all.