The Psychology Behind Seasonal Preferences: Does Your Favorite Season Match Your Personality?

Have you ever wondered why some people enjoy certain seasons more than others? Does it have to do with science and how the brain works? And what does it mean, for example, when someone’s favorite season is summer? In this article, that’s exactly what we will dive into—starting with discussing what makes people have seasonal preferences in the first place to what each season represents as a personal favorite.

Although there has been limited research on the psychology behind why people prefer certain seasons, it has been discovered that the different traits of each season, including sunlight levels and temperature, can have a substantial impact on mood. Moreover, according to Verywell Mind, this emotional influence is largely determined by the person’s birth month. For instance, someone born in the spring and summer months may be more prone to mood shifts with changing temperatures and light levels, while someone born in the cooler months may not feel the impact as much. 

Mood also does not just refer to one’s emotional state; it could also be tied to behavior. For example, while cooler temperatures make certain people feel less energetic and upbeat, it may also create shifts in their daily activities, relating to their behavior. It’s not surprising that sunlight can have a significant impact on one’s mood by igniting a strong feeling of hopefulness, mainly because of the human body’s circadian rhythm and how it is largely affected by light. But sunny days can also lead to increased levels of productivity and better eating and sleeping habits. Additionally, seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a condition caused by a decreased amount of sunlight in the cooler seasons, usually starting in early fall and ending in the late winter, according to Mayo Clinic. People with SAD usually feel incredibly lethargic and unmotivated during these colder seasons, as well as a longer sleep schedule and increased appetite. 

Jumping into the fun part, what does your favorite season actually say about you, if anything? To start off, if you love spring—a season filled with blossoming tulips, blooming pear and cherry blossom trees, as well as an increased number of little critters—the most, then you enjoy finding new adventures and challenges to take on and often find it refreshing to take a break after finishing a hard task. After all, spring is known as the season of renewal after a long winter.

If your favorite season is summer—a time filled with endless sunshine, pool time, and outdoor picnics, then you are an avid traveler and outdoor explorer. You tend to enjoy going outside when possible and have an outgoing, extroverted part of your personality. Your friends would usually describe you as a charismatic and assertive human. Additionally, because summer is representative of longer and warmer days, fans of this season look forward to putting themselves out there and living a carefree lifestyle.

Coming just a few months later, fall is the next season! If you’re a huge fan of autumn leaves, sweater season, and cinnamon spice bundt cakes, then you have a strong desire for change and new tasks to handle. The upcoming holidays in fall inspire you to both look forward to the new year and reflect on past adventures.

Lastly, if winter—a time of breathtaking, snow-covered lawns, jingle bells, and sparkly wreaths—is your favorite season, then you are definitely a homebody. You love to wrap yourself in a warm blanket, grab a mug of hot chocolate, and turn on the TV for an afternoon session of movies. While you do have an extroverted side to your personality, you often prefer to express your introverted-ness more and stay at home with warm people.

Different seasons could mean different things to everyone, and this article is just a starting point to touch on the basics of what our preferences could mean. Warmer or cooler seasons can definitely have an impact on the way we think, feel, and act, but it’s important to remember that the way people react also depends on a vast variety of factors. Regardless of which season you prefer, though, this article hopefully made it easier to get to know yourself a bit more and why people act the way they do in different seasons.