Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-29
WEATHER INFLUENCES
BY H. Arlington Bruce

wy HAT weather conditions exert a pro-
w found influence on human behavior
has long been insisted by numerous
savants Elaborate statistical studies have
been made regarding the relation between
the state Of the weather and such matters as
crime, suicide, illtemper, and loss of working
efficiency.
One thing, however, that does not seem to
have been sufficiently stressed by investiga-
tors of weather influences is the possibility
that when weather docs affect behavior adj
yersely, this may be not so much because of
the weather itself as because Of predisposing
conditions in the person unfayorably influ-
enced.
For instance, in summary of weather in
fluences on the efficiency of group OF bank
clerks, we find one Investigator, Edwin
Grant Dexter, recording:
Clerical errors were to be found generally
excessive during the warmer, and deficient
during the colder months, with some excep-
tions noted; but slightly affected by changes
in temperature except for a marked increase
in number for great heat, of less than nor
NAL prevalence for low, and more for mod
crate readings of the barometer; generally de-
ficient for slight humdties and excessive for
great"
But now, supposing a similar study were
made of the efficiency of a group of men and
women engaged not in routine clerical work,
but in creative work in which all Of them
were intensely interested, is it certain that
similar weather effects would be found?
Is it not possible that because their work
was not of a sort to command interested at
tention, the bank clerks of Dexter's survey
were more than ordinarily responsive to
change in the weather?
In the opinion Of some present-day psychol-
ogists, this is than a possibility. In
especial they deplore the habit many people
have of all the time fussng about the weather
and it's real or fancied influences On them.
To quote DR.. A. A. Roback, a teacher of
psychology in Harvard University:
eve may say with certainty that once a
person becomes immersed in ambitious
idea the influence of weather conditions will
be but slight.
Gas rule those who keep thinking con-
tinually about the weather do not belong to
the industrious portion Of humanity. They
remind us Of the office boy or typist who
is very familiar terms with the time
piece"
This is hard doctrine, yet everyday OBJ
servatiOn goes to bear it out. In fact, let
person be exceedingly interested in anything
and there may even be an evading of the
physiological as well as psychological effects
Of weather.
The Yale-Harvard football game OF last No
vember provides an instance to the point 1t
was played in the heaviest rain of the au-
tumn. Yet many thousands of persons saw
1t through, nor did epidemic of colds in
fluenza and pneumonia result
There can be but the one explanation that
the intensity OF the spectators interest in the
game temporarily raised their level of bodily
resistyity against the chill and wet Of that
November afternoon. II interest can thus
avert unfayorable bodily influences of weather,
1t IS unreasonable to believe that it must
have still more marked protective value in
respect to unfavorable mental influences?
Think this over-particuarly II you are
among those who have to admit that you are
not genuinely interested in your daily work
(COnYripht 1924