Sex and Racial Differences in Color and Number Preferences

Abstract

582 undergraduates were asked to write down their favorite color and choose a number from 0 to 9. The color blue and the number seven were chosen most frequently by both sexes and races, supporting Simon's (1971) “blue-seven” phenomenon. Compared with women, men chose red and blue more frequently. Women showed a preference for yellow, purple, black, and less frequent colors more often than men. White subjects chose blue and green more often than black subjects, while black subjects showed a preference for red, purple, black, and less frequent colors. There was little relationship between color preferences and scores on the Luscher Color Test.

A rose by any other name …: Color-naming influences on decision making

“…There was no significant difference in liking of green and brown, p ϭ .114. This main effect replicates the overall preference for the color blue demonstrated by past research (Dittmar, 2001;Lind, 1994;Silver & Ferrante, 1995;Silver et al, 1988;Walsh et al, 1990). There was no interaction between the name given (generic or fancy) and the color (blue, brown, and green) itself F(2, 190) ϭ 1.72, p ϭ .18.…”

“…The color blue was also chosen because past research shows preferences for primary colors and a preference for the color blue in particular (Dittmar, 2001;Silver et al, 1988).…”

“…231-235). Additional research on primary colors has shown a strong preference (or liking) for the color blue and a trend to dislike the color yellow (see Dittmar, 2001;Lind, 1994;Silver & Ferrante, 1995;Silver et al, 1988;Walsh et al, 1990). Thus, color seems to be very influential in people's memories and preferences.…”

Number Preferences in Lotteries

“…3 The popularity of seven and blue is known as the "blue-seven phenomenon" (Simon, 1971;Simon & Primavera, 1972;Trueman, 1979;Vandewiele, D'Hondt, Didillon, Iwawaki & Mwamwenda, 1986;Silver et al, 1988;Saito, 1999). Non-Western subjects tend to prefer other numbers and colors, suggesting that number and color preferences are culturally determined (Philbrick, 1976;D'Hondt & Vandewiele, 1983;Vandewiele et al, 1986;Kuloglu et al, 2002).…”

“…Experimental studies similarly document a preference for this number (Simon, 1971;Simon & Primavera, 1972;Heywood, 1972;Kubovy & Psotka, 1976;Teigen, 1983;Silver et al, 1988). 2 Studies that looked at color preferences find that blue is the most frequently chosen color (Simon, 1971;Simon & Primavera, 1972;Trueman, 1979;Silver et al, 1988).…”