Revisiting the Red Effect on Attractiveness and Sexual Receptivity: No Effect of the Color Red on Human Mate Preferences
Color-in-context theory is the first theoretical framework for understanding color effects in human mate preferences, arguing that red clothing enhances attractiveness ratings. Here we present three empirical studies failing to support this prediction. We aimed to extend the current literature by di...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2016-10-01
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| Series: | Evolutionary Psychology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/1474704916673841 |
| _version_ | 1797403182058438656 |
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| author | Leonard S. Peperkoorn S. Craig Roberts Thomas V. Pollet |
| author_facet | Leonard S. Peperkoorn S. Craig Roberts Thomas V. Pollet |
| author_sort | Leonard S. Peperkoorn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Color-in-context theory is the first theoretical framework for understanding color effects in human mate preferences, arguing that red clothing enhances attractiveness ratings. Here we present three empirical studies failing to support this prediction. We aimed to extend the current literature by differentiating color effects by temporal context (short-term vs. long-term mating). Experiment 1 involved Dutch participants rating a woman in red, white, and black on (sexual) attractiveness. Experiment 2 replicated the first experiment with an American sample. In the final experiment, we aimed to replicate a study that did find evidence of a red effect, using a substantially larger sample size. The results from each of the three studies (totaling N = 830 men) fail to support the red effect. We discuss the implications of our results and avenues for future research on red effects and attractiveness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:34:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba96d2cbd1c342b9b74dc7f52a99f3e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1474-7049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:34:48Z |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Evolutionary Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba96d2cbd1c342b9b74dc7f52a99f3e22023-12-06T11:33:35ZengSAGE PublishingEvolutionary Psychology1474-70492016-10-011410.1177/147470491667384110.1177_1474704916673841Revisiting the Red Effect on Attractiveness and Sexual Receptivity: No Effect of the Color Red on Human Mate PreferencesLeonard S. Peperkoorn0S. Craig Roberts1Thomas V. Pollet2 Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Division of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsColor-in-context theory is the first theoretical framework for understanding color effects in human mate preferences, arguing that red clothing enhances attractiveness ratings. Here we present three empirical studies failing to support this prediction. We aimed to extend the current literature by differentiating color effects by temporal context (short-term vs. long-term mating). Experiment 1 involved Dutch participants rating a woman in red, white, and black on (sexual) attractiveness. Experiment 2 replicated the first experiment with an American sample. In the final experiment, we aimed to replicate a study that did find evidence of a red effect, using a substantially larger sample size. The results from each of the three studies (totaling N = 830 men) fail to support the red effect. We discuss the implications of our results and avenues for future research on red effects and attractiveness.https://doi.org/10.1177/1474704916673841 |
| spellingShingle | Leonard S. Peperkoorn S. Craig Roberts Thomas V. Pollet Revisiting the Red Effect on Attractiveness and Sexual Receptivity: No Effect of the Color Red on Human Mate Preferences Evolutionary Psychology |
| title | Revisiting the Red Effect on Attractiveness and Sexual Receptivity: No Effect of the Color Red on Human Mate Preferences |
| title_full | Revisiting the Red Effect on Attractiveness and Sexual Receptivity: No Effect of the Color Red on Human Mate Preferences |
| title_fullStr | Revisiting the Red Effect on Attractiveness and Sexual Receptivity: No Effect of the Color Red on Human Mate Preferences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revisiting the Red Effect on Attractiveness and Sexual Receptivity: No Effect of the Color Red on Human Mate Preferences |
| title_short | Revisiting the Red Effect on Attractiveness and Sexual Receptivity: No Effect of the Color Red on Human Mate Preferences |
| title_sort | revisiting the red effect on attractiveness and sexual receptivity no effect of the color red on human mate preferences |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/1474704916673841 |
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