Effects of coloured lighting on pleasure and arousal in relation to cultural differences

Abstract

This study examined the effects of lighting colour on emotional states and the effects of ethnicity on the impact of lighting colours on emotional states, based on the Mehrabian and Russell’s emotional state model measuring pleasure, arousal and dominance. It was hypothesised that there are significant differences in pleasure and arousal among six lighting colours: red, green, blue, yellow, orange and purple and that different ethnicities (i.e. Asian and Caucasian) can influence the effects of the six lighting colours on pleasure and arousal. To test the hypotheses, an experiment was conducted in a controlled lab using a colour-changing LED lighting fixture with 82 participants. The results revealed that there were significant differences in pleasure and arousal among the six lighting colours. Ethnicity had significant effects on the impact of lighting colour on pleasure but not on arousal. Blue was the most pleasant lighting colour and showed significantly higher pleasure than red and purple. Red was the least pleasant lighting colour and showed significantly lower pleasure than all other lighting colours. Asians found red and purple lighting significantly less pleasant than all other colours and tended to feel more unpleasant when exposed to red, orange and purple lighting than Caucasians.

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