The "cuffing season" refers to that time of year—typically from October through February—when people are more likely to pair up. It’s not about finding "the one" for life, but rather seeking temporary companionship to get through the colder months. In essence, it’s a way of finding some warmth and connection to help navigate the winter chill.

A study published in Perception and covered by Slate explored how attraction shifts with the seasons. Researchers asked 114 heterosexual men to rate photos of women every month. Results showed that men found women significantly more attractive in winter than in summer. The theory is that when the temperature drops, people’s attraction triggers might adjust to help them find a partner during this season

Is there any scientific backing to this idea? Why does our attraction seem to change as the weather gets colder? Does the cuffing season end when the weather warms up? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

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