Revisiting the Red Effect on Attractiveness and Sexual Receptivity: No Effect of the Color Red on Human Mate Preferences

Abstract

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 ¼ 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.

The effect of schizotypy on the relationship between women's red clothing and perceived sexual interest

“…Importantly, though, recent research has brought this assertion into question. For example, and in contrast to the findings of Elliot and Niesta (2008), Peperkoorn, Roberts, and Pollet (2016) found no effect of clothing colour on the perceived attractiveness of women. In addition, and in contrast to Guéguen andJacob (2012), Lynn, Giebelhausen, Garcia, Li, andPatumanon (2013) failed to find an effect of female waiters' clothing colour on men's tipping behaviour.…”

Predicting Context-dependent Cross-modal Associations with Dimension-specific Polarity Attributions. Part 2: Red and Valence

“…The color red has been of particular interest, and studies have shown that the meaning of the color red is context-dependent (Elliot, 2015). For example, red has been proposed to elicit feelings of attractiveness (e.g., Elliot, Greitemeyer, & Pazda, 2013;Young, 2015, but see also Lehmann & Calin-Jageman, 2017;Peperkoorn, Roberts;Pollet, 2016 for studies which do not support this specific effect of the color red). Red also shows a strong association with danger (Pravossoudovitch, Cury, Young, & Elliot, 2014).…”

Processing the Word Red and Intellectual Performance: Four Replication Attempts

“…Thus, the available findings encompass effects of clear practical importance as well as effects that are unlikely to impact applied assessments. Similar recent replications of viewing the color red have failed to find consistent effects on, for example, perceived attractiveness (Lehmann & Calin-Jageman, 2017;Peperkoorn, Roberts, & Pollet, 2016) or cognitive test performance (Gnambs, 2019). These results suggest that red color effects might be overestimated in published studies and that actual effects are more modest.…”