The Lady In Red... New research shows the colour red attracts men to women
Last updated 10/30/2008 1:39:52 PM
New research shows the colour red attracts men to women
It's been chosen by generations of women in the belief that not only does it look good, but men like it too - and now new research suggests the colour red certainly attracts male attention.
The study is by the University of Rochester in the United States. Through five psychological experiments, Andrew Elliot, professor of psychology, and Daniela Niesta, post-doctoral researcher, demonstrate that red makes men feel more amorous toward women.
Interestingly, men are unaware of the role the colour plays in their attraction. The research provides intriguing support for society's enduring love affair with red.
From the red ochre used in ancient rituals to today's red-light districts and red hearts on Valentine's Day, the rosy hue has been tied to carnal passions and romantic love across cultures and millennia. But this study, said Professor Elliot, scientifically documents the effects of colour on behaviour in the context of relationships.
"It's only recently that psychologists and researchers in other disciplines have been looking closely and systematically at the relationship between colour and behaviour," he said.
"Much is known about colour physics and colour physiology, but very little about colour psychology. It's fascinating to find that something as ubiquitous as colour can be having an effect on our behaviour without our awareness."