Lady in Red

We've all heard of the little red dress. (Or is it black dress? Either way, its good.) It makes women feel sexy and turns men on. New research also shows that it turns a woman on when they see a man in red. The effect is completely subconscious, yet women rate men wearing red as more powerful. Andrew Elliot, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, claims "We found that women view men in red as higher in status, more likely to make money and more likely to climb the social ladder. And it's this high-status judgment that leads to the attraction."


288 female and 25 male undergraduates took part in the study, and were all either hetero or bisexual. All were shown pictures of men wearing various colors, or sometimes just men framed in a red border. The participating men and women were asked to rate how willing they were to kiss, date or have sex with the men pictured. They also rated the mens attractiveness, status, extroversion, likability and kindness.

Red made men seem more sexually desirable, powerful and attractive. It didnt make them seem any more kind or social. The effect of red on these perception were only seen in women. Men didnt seem to care either way. These findings were recorded across cultures. Undegrads in Germany, China, the U.S. and Britain all found men most attractive when they were wearing or bordered by red.

Another study found that men are also attracted to women wearing red. Similar to women, men were attracted to women wearing red but were unaware of the factor that the color played. The women had their pictures taken in different clothes, some colored red and others not. Men routinely rated the women more attractive when they wore rosy colors.

The scientists claim that the basis for this preference comes from biology and not from social opinions. Nonhuman primates also have a fascination with red, and female primates often turn a shade of red near ovulation, which attracts mates.


Sources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100802101821.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081028074323.htm