Winter may increase people's craving for emotional warmth and physical affection

Therersquos something about winter the chill in the air the aroma of coffee the warm blanket that stirs an instinctual desire for warmth and companionshipAs the nights grow longer hearts can wander more readily For many the season brings a reminder not just of love but of the complex human desire for companionship even if it is outside the confines of monogamyAccording to the citywise information revealed in the GleedenndashIPSOS Infidelity study 2025 which studied 1510 respondents from across Tier1 and Tier2 cities in India a startling 43 per cent of the people feel that humans are not constructed for monogamy This means that almost 50 per cent of India admits that fidelity may not be a natural function rather the desire like winters has its inexplicable moodsWhere warmth turns wild The winter effect on relationshipsWinter is often called ldquothe season of loverdquo but for many it is also the season of rediscovery and temptation The research shows that the coldness of the months may increase peoples crave for emotional warmth and physical affection and lead people to indulge in friendships rather than enhance their principal connections The app data has shown that the phases of increasing activity in getting together during winter as people seek warmth through conversations and often slippingsWinter romance is deeper more intense more urgent which is probably why at this time one feels that people are more honest about their feelings of complexityThe loyalty dilemma Tier1 vs Tier2 attitudes towards monogamyThough the sentiments are to a certain extent away from monogamy what is intriguing is the line of fracture between the metro cities and the smaller towns of India In Tier I such as Delhi Mumbai Hyderabad and Bengaluru 38 per cent of those interviewed do not think that monogamy is natural In Tier2 cities however the proportion jumps up to 47 per cent which suggests that the socalled traditional towns of India are more broadminded about infidelity than we would be inclined to thinkAccording to the data towns leading the race in thinking that humans were not meant for monogamy are those of Jaipur 52 per cent Patna 46 per cent and Indore 69 per cent Those of Kolkata 40 per cent and Ahmedabad 46 per cent have moderate views which reflect the position between idealism and realism At the same time 26 per cent it appears are still for the principle of loyalty and are of the opinion that monogamy is natural and attainable The cities of Ludhiana 30 per cent and Indore 33 per cent are those cities where belief in fidelity is still intact which proves that despite changes in attitude the old fashioned ideas have not gone For the rest 31 per cent the question of love depends upon the view which individual opinion takes saying that it depends upon the individualInfidelity is not always rebellion itrsquos reflectionSybil Shiddell country manager with the app in India says ldquoInfidelity is not in itself dishonesty it is often a reflection of unfulfilled emotional or physical need As people change so must their relationships change What the study shows is that the Indian people are beginning to view loyalty and love from a more human standpoint that which accepts imperfection and personal desirerdquoThe study shows not only about attitude but more about emotional realities Love for a very large number of people in India is not only confined to the idea of forever It is more in the nature of connectivity warmth and genuineness even where it is from unexpected sources The air getting colder and the heart being stricken with restlessness perhaps the one true question is not whether or not the human system is wired for monogamy but whether it is wired for honesty about what it really wantsFor winter can make the human being seek warmth but it also makes the need to face what he has been missing dawn