Everyone knows someone who does it. Whether it's 68°F, 72°F, 22°C or 24°C, they have a preferred thermostat setting and refuse to change it. Friends complain they're cold. Family members insist it's too warm. Seasons change. Energy prices fluctuate. Yet the thermostat stays exactly where it has always been. At first glance, this may seem like a simple preference for comfort. But psychologists suggest there may be more happening behind the behavior.
People who consistently keep their air conditioner or thermostat at a fixed temperature are not necessarily stubborn or inflexible. In many cases, their brains may be seeking predictability, efficiency and a sense of control in an increasingly unpredictable world. Several psychological theories help explain why some people become surprisingly attached to a specific number on the thermostat.
