Does Color Red Undermine Individuals Intellectual Performance

What does the color red mean to you? Does it have a meaning? If so, is it positive or negative? In China a study was conducted to test whether the color red “undermine individuals’ intellectual performance”. A couple psychologists wanted to test the theory that proposed “that color carries meaning, but also that the meaning that color carries is context-specific and, therefore, the influence that color has an psychological functioning is context-specific” (82). In other words, the main point of the study was to test whether color has a meaning, in this case it was the color red, and if so does it affect intellectual performance on individuals. The experiment tested two hypothesis, hypothesis one predicted that the color red will have no negative
First, blue was the only color used to compare results to which means that no achromatic color was used. If black, white or grey were used plus another color other than blue, then the results could’ve been more accurate and provided more explanations. Also, the colors were not verified by a colorimeter, instead the color properties were controlled by the software program. The sample was also very small. There was only 58 participants. If a greater sample was used, the results could’ve been different. Other then limitations, the study had it’s implications as well. In the west red is linked to “avoidance motivation in achievement situations” (84), which mean that the color red has a negative relationship with motivation which interfere with overall performance.However, this explanation has not been proved in China an can not be used for current results. Since in China, the color red is linked to positive connotations “red may evoke approach motivation” (84). Furthering research would help answer more questions and give greater explanations for the
I found it interesting that the color red actually affected the performance on the test. I find it similar to the association color has with feelings. For example, the color red is associated with love but also with fear, and the color blue is usually used to describe the feeling of being upset. Different colors can change the was you feel meaning that color does have meaning which can be positive or negative. In the West and in China, red has negative connotations and this connotations were reason for the color affect the performance on the test. I would definitely like to reach more studies similar to this and learn more about color associations affecting performance on different