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Red proven to be the color of love
Red has been the color of love in passion and romance in many cultures over the course of history and scientists put it to the test. There have been songs and movies about it (Lady in Red), but scientists in a a new study have shown men are more attracted towards women wearing red.
University of Rochester psychologists tested how different colors affected men’s attitudes towards women, In five psychological experiments.
In all the experiments, women shown framed by or wearing red were rated significantly more attractive and sexually desirable by men than the exact same women shown with other colors.
As an example in one experiment, test subjects were shown a picture of a woman that was framed by either a red or white border and asked to answer a series of questions, such as: “How pretty do you think this person is?” Other experiments contrasted red with gray, green or blue (keeping saturation and brightness levels the same between the different hues).
In the final study, the shirt of the woman in the photo was digitally colored red or blue. In this experiment, men were questioned not only about their attraction to the woman, but about how they would plan a hypothetical date with her. For example, one question asked: “Imagine that you are going on a date with this person and have $100 in your wallet. How much would you be willing to spend on your date?”
The final study showed When wearing red, women were also more likely to be treated to a more expensive outing.
“It’s fascinating to find that something as ubiquitous as color can be having an effect on our behavior without our awareness,” said study team member Andrew Elliot.
The study, detailed in the Oct. 28 online edition of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, is said to be the first to scientifically document the effects of color on behavior in relationships.
Elliot and his co-author Daniela Niesta said the effect could be due to societal conditioning, though they attribute it to deeper biological roots because nonhuman male primates, such as baboons and chimpanzees, are known to be attracted to females displaying red.
The red effect applied only to males and only to their perceptions of attractiveness; it did not change their ratings of the pictured women in terms of likability, intelligence or kindness. So unfortunately the red dress will only get you so far!
Another recent study seemed to suggest that males find everything more attractive in red. Referees were shown to favor red-clad competitors because of a subconscious bias for the color.
