Abstract:  Researchers increasingly acknowledge the importance of the effects of meteorological conditions on human life, ranging from individual emotion swings to the rise and collapse of civilizations. “Meteorological psychology” refers to the study of the influence of two meteorological conditions, weather (short-term) and climate (long-term), on multilevel psychological and behavioral functions from individual cognition and emotion, to group dynamics, and further to institutional and cultural traits. Weather and climate related factors like the temperature, humidity, precipitation, sunlight exposure and duration systematically influence (1) individual psychological conditions including emotions, working memory, and cognitive abilities, (2) individual behaviors such as interpersonal affinity and anti-social behaviors, and (3) group dynamics and culture such as interpersonal and group conflicts. Furthermore, climatic demands together with resource sufficiency significantly shape local cultural characteristics. Considering that human society is deeply and constantly embedded in and impacted by meteorological conditions, meteorological psychology should be integrated as an important research field into the discipline of psychology.

Key words:  meteorological psychology, weather, climate