Romantic Red: Testing the Characteristics of Color–Attraction Effects in a Novel Paradigm

Abstract

The red-attraction effect refers to the finding that the color red enhances attractiveness ratings of targets, and is most robustly observed when males rate females. Three previously unexplored aspects of color-attraction effects were tested in a single experiment with a large sample size (N = 778). The effect of exposure to a color and the impact of pairing a color with a target were disentangled using a novel design. Moreover, we tested the proposition that color exerts its effects outside of awareness by examining the association of conscious awareness of color-target pairing with the red-attraction effect. Both prior exposure to red and pairing of red with a target influenced attractiveness ratings, but not always in the direction of increased attractiveness. Results also varied as a function of target and participant sex. However, when conscious awareness of target-color pairing was higher, results converged with the typically-observed red-attraction effect among males rating females.

Do red objects enhance sexual attractiveness? No evidence from two large replications

“…This leads us to suggest that there is no strong evidence that color manipulations of objects reliably influence perceptions of (sexual) attractiveness. In a broader context, our study adds to the pool of nonreplications of predictions derived from color-in-context theory [33][34][35][36][37]. There is now a sizeable number of studies which have failed to find support for a 'romantic red effect'.…”

“…This therefore also suggested a wearereffect whereby the model may behave differently depending on the clothing color. However, several studies have failed to find support for the romantic red effect [33][34][35][36]. Most notably, Peperkoorn and colleagues found no support for the romantic red effect across three studies totaling over 800 men [37].…”

The Emergence of Habitual Ochre Use in Africa and its Significance for The Development of Ritual Behavior During The Middle Stone Age

“…A considerable amount of data showing that the perception of red generally attracts more attention than other colors has accumulated over the last years (Buechner et al, 2014;Folk, 2015;Lindsey et al, 2010;Pomerleau et al, 2014;Sokolik et al, 2014;Tchernikov & Fallah, 2010). Red stimuli have nontrivial effects on specific human emotions and (mostly unconscious) influence on behavior in competition, achievement, danger and especially mating contexts (Beall & Tracy 2013;Elliot & Niesta, 2008;Elliot et al, 2013aElliot et al, , 2013bMaier et al, 2015;Pazda & Greitemeyer, 2015;Schwarz & Singer, 2013;Shi et al, 2015;Stephen & Perrett, 2015;Tanaka & Tokuno, 2011;Velden et al, 2012;Williams et al, 2017;Wu et al, 2018). We point out that the specific symbolic meaning of the color red varies across cultures and historical epochs.…”