Moral Judgments May Shift with the Seasons

By Anvita Patwardhan | September 20, 2024 | 2 min read

Jasmin Merdan/Getty Images

As leaves fall, snow sweeps in, or flowers blossom, humans change in measurable ways, too. Research suggests a range of psychological phenomena—such as emotional state, diet and exercise habits, sexual activity, and even color preferences—fluctuate throughout the year. A recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA demonstrates how moral values can also shift with the seasons.

For the study, researchers analyzed over 230,000 online survey responses from people in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The questions were based on a standardized framework known as moral foundations theory, which assesses people’s judgments of right and wrong. The study revealed that certain values such as loyalty, authority, and purity received weaker endorsements in summer and winter, while care and fairness values showed no consistent seasonal pattern.

The researchers found that anxiety levels peak in spring and fall, which could explain the seasonal shifts in moral judgments. People who feel more vulnerable to seasonal illnesses tend to be more distrustful, xenophobic, and likely to conform to majority opinion. This suggests that seasonal timing could impact various aspects of society, including jury decisions, vaccination campaigns, and election outcomes.

It’s important to note that the study focused on data from “WEIRD” populations and may not reflect the unique moral experiences of marginalized groups. However, the findings highlight the influence of seasons on human psychology and behavior.

Georgetown University School of Medicine psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal, a leading expert on seasonal affective disorder, emphasizes that humans are indeed seasonal creatures, and internal states can significantly affect behavior.

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