UC Berkeley

“The chills” refers to a constellation of cold-defense sensations elicited by emotionally significant events. I examined the universality of chills sensations among 2,761 individuals across 26 countries distributed across 6 continents.

Across these varying cultures, analyses revealed two types of chills with distinct subjective and social correlates: goosebumps and tingling (“goosetingles”) and coldness and shivers (“coldshivers”). Goosetingles accompanied positive emotions, most notably awe, were elicited by reward, and predicted social closeness. Coldshivers accompanied negative emotions, most notably fear and disgust, and was elicited by threat, and predicted social separation. Some elicitors (e.g., success, failure) had stronger effects in cultures where they are more novel. Others, particularly those critical to evolutionary fitness (sexual arousal, danger), had strong effects regardless of culture. Coldshivers predicted separation more strongly in colder climates. These findings document universal approach- and avoidance-specific bodily sensations that reveal the thermoregulatory roots of emotion and social bonds.