Are You Seeing Red?

The color red is associated with mistakes and failures, experts say.  And now researchers at the University of Rochester and University of Munich say that the color red can affect how people perform on tests.  The study, which was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, found that people's associations with colors are so strong and deep that people are predisposed to certain reactions when they see that color.

Red has been traditionally associated with errors in schoolwork.  Therefore, says Andrew Elliot, lead author and professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, when people see even a flash of red before being tested, they associate the color with mistakes and failure, and in turn perform poorly on the test.

The researchers say the study shows that care must be taken when it comes to color and achievement, and that color can act as an environmental cue that influences behavior.