Some Variables in the Blue (Red) Phenomenon

Abstract

The relation between spontaneous color choices and ratings of the prototypicality, conspicuousness, and pleasantness of colors was studied in a sample of Dutch college students. Pleasantness, not prototypicality or conspicuousness, determined the four most frequent spontaneous choices--red, blue, green, and purple. Subjects considered blue the most pleasant of the 12 colors studied, which suggests a pleasantness explanation for the "blue phenomenon" found in some countries. The predominance of red as a spontaneous choice replicated the results of previous studies in the Netherlands. Red also was rated highest in prototypicality but was not rated higher by red choosers than by choosers of other colors, so that a simple prototypicality explanation was rejected. Further analysis showed that the predominance of red as the spontaneous choice of Dutch subjects can be explained by an interaction between prototypicality and pleasantness: Subjects tended to choose red when they rated it highly on both variables.

Against Prototypicality as a Central Concept in Aesthetics

“…However, yellow never is preferred over purple in preferencestudies, including Martindale's [16]-study (see [36] for a review of preferencestudies). In addition, Wiegersma and vanLoon recently found that rated pleasantness of colors was not related to prototypicality in a significant way [34].…”

Are there nontrivial constraints on colour categorization?

“…Other studies reveal a variety of adult preference orderings both intra-and interculturally (see Davidoff 1991, pp. 115-19;Garth 1922;Helson & Lansford 1970;Martindale & Moore 1988;Wiegersma & van Loon 1989;Zöld et al 1986). Although most studies report either blue or red as heading the preference order, no other study repeats Bornstein's ordering.…”

“…As further support for categorical perception, Bornstein claimed that not only do infants categorize the spectrum as (American) adults do, they also display the same colour preferences: red/blue, green/yellow (Bornstein 1975). But adult colour preference is far from established: Is the preference for pleasantness, arousal, or conspicuousness (Wiegersma & van Loon 1989)? Is it for hue or saturation?…”

10 Questions on Room Color: Answers for Workplace Designers

“…Maybe. Wiegersma and van Loon (1989) found that pleasantness, not prototypicality or conspicuousness, determined which color people spontaneously responded with. Although sufficient research has not been conducted, Wiegersma and van Loon's findings may suggest that people spontaneously respond with the color they perceive as most pleasant.…”