Related Experiment Videos
Displaying Red and Black on a First Date: A Field Study Using the "First Dates" Television Series
Robin S S Kramer1,2, Jerrica Mulgrew2
11 School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom.
Summary
People wear more red and black clothing when meeting potential mates, a real-world finding that may enhance attractiveness and signal intentions. This study analyzed clothing choices of 546 daters.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- The color red is associated with increased perceived attractiveness in experimental settings.
- Previous laboratory studies suggest women strategically use red to enhance their appeal to attractive men.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the tendency to wear red to increase attractiveness extends to real-world dating scenarios.
- To examine clothing color choices (red, black, blue) in a naturalistic setting involving first dates.
Main Methods:
- A field study analyzing 546 participants from the television series "First Dates."
- Comparison of clothing colors worn during pre-date interviews versus actual first dates.
- Quantitative analysis of the amount of red, black, and blue clothing displayed by both men and women.
Main Results:
- Both men and women wore significantly more red clothing during their first dates compared to pre-date interviews.
- The tendency to wear more red was even more pronounced for black clothing.
- No significant difference in the amount of blue clothing was observed between the two contexts.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first real-world evidence that individuals increase their display of red and black clothing when meeting a potential mate.
- Wearing red and black may serve to enhance perceived attractiveness and/or communicate mating intentions in a naturalistic setting.
- Findings suggest that color signaling in clothing plays a role in human mate selection beyond laboratory observations.