Dermot Lynott

Who they are

The work of Dermot Lynott reaches this site through the paper listed below. The name is tied to Direct Replication, Physical Warmth Priming. Their paper reports: Three high-powered independent replications of Study 2 of Williams and Bargh: participants evaluated hot or cold therapeutic packs then chose a reward framed as prosocial (treat a friend) or self-interested.

Key papers

Lynott, D., Corker, K. S., Wortman, J., Connell, L., Donnellan, M. B., Lucas, R. E., & O'Brien, K. (2014). Replication of Experiencing physical warmth promotes interpersonal warmth by Williams and Bargh (2008). Social Psychology, 45(3), 216-222. What it reports: Three high-powered independent replications of Study 2 of Williams and Bargh: participants evaluated hot or cold therapeutic packs then chose a reward framed as prosocial (treat a friend) or self-interested. No effect in any lab or pooled, total 861 participants; conclusion: no evidence that brief exposure to warm packs induces more prosocial responding than cold packs.

Key ideas

Direct Replication: A repeat of an earlier experiment using its original design, often with larger samples, blinded procedures and several independent labs.

Physical Warmth Priming: The proposal that a brief experience of physical warmth, such as holding a hot drink or pad, shifts social judgments and choices without the person noticing.

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