There is some science being done about the color red. It isn’t just the color of pretty backless cocktail dresses, fast cars or satin bed sheets. Red isn’t just a seductive color, it is also a manipulative color, according to an article by David Robson on the BBC Future site.
Red may have been seen as a warning color by our ancestors.
After all, red is the color of our blood. The color red may still have a bit of an influence on our moods, desires and the way we act. That’s why there is a new branch of psychology that is still in its infancy, called color psychology. Of course not all of their research is focused on the color red, but it certainly stands out among other colors. After all, humans are some of the only mammals that can distinguish between the color red and the color green, for instance.
Studies have shown that competitors wearing red tend to win more than those who are wearing blue. Scientists aren’t exactly sure whether this is because red is a more dominant color and the person wearing it has an increased heart rate and is more motivated or if they intimidated the opposition. Competitors who wore the color red were usually favored by professional referees, too.
Both men and women are seen as more attractive when they are wearing red, but it may also come off as aggressive, depending on the shade of red.
What we need to keep in mind is that the science is still very young. There is an indication that red could make a difference, but we are still not entirely sure how – or even what that difference is. That is one of the reasons we are so far away from being able to paint our office in productive colors, though wearing a red tie to a job interview would certainly not hurt.
