Have you ever eaten an extra slice of pie for dessert only to promise yourself a diet just hours later? Or gone grocery shopping on an empty stomach and bought far more ice cream than you needed? These are classic examples of the hot-cold empathy gap at work

What are empathy gaps?

The hot-cold empathy gap occurs when “hot” visceral factors - such as excitement, hunger, stress, or fear - lead us to act in ways that contradict our “cold”, rational, calm intentions. This gap can result in overspending, risky investments, or failing to save enough for the future. When we are in a "cold" state, we struggle to predict how "hot" emotional states will influence our behavior.

With the holiday season packed with temptations, from Black Friday deals to indulgent dinners, now is a good time to explore how hot-cold empathy gaps affect financial decisions—and how to overcome them.