Coffee Quote by Richard H. Thaler
““Or consider this one: people’s judgments about strangers are affected by whether they are drinking iced coffee or hot coffee! Those given iced coffee are more likely to see other people as more selfish, less sociable, and, well, colder than those who are given hot coffee.27 This, too, happens quite unconsciously.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Nudge Theory in Practice, Richard H. Thaler, 2015
People’s judgments of strangers shift unconsciously based on subtle cues like drinking iced versus hot coffee, influencing perceived warmth and sociability.
In simple terms: Coffee temperature subtly changes how we view others.
Key Takeaway
Notice how small cues affect your judgments.
Themes
social perception
bias
unconscious influence
temperature effects
Mood
curious
analytical
reflective
Type
observational
psychological
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- customer service
- first impressions
- marketing research
Key Concepts
behavioral economics
priming
stereotype activation
Questions to Reflect On
- How might other everyday cues bias your opinions?
- Can you design environments to reduce such bias?
A Different Perspective
The effect may be fleeting and context‑dependent, not a stable trait.
