Why Pink?
In the past, your typical computer buyer tended to be male and aged between 18 to 25. Nowadays computers and especially laptops and netbooks are bought all ages and both sexes. A great number of computer buyers are female and most of the leading computer manufacturers are now offering the colour pink as an option on many of their laptops and netbooks. What started off as something of a novelty has now become a staple of their laptop ranges? Pink laptops were one of the best selling electronic products over the Christmas period 2008.
Girls like pink, we all know this, but have you ever stopped to think why? Is it due to cultural influences or is their some biological explanation behind this preference for pink? Well, perhaps you might not be surprised to read that there has been a scientific study into these phenomena and the findings were somewhat controversial?
The Study
A scientific study*, by Anya Hurlbert and Yazhu Ling for Newcastle University, looked into the notion that females have a genetic predilection towards the colour pink and the conclusions were surprising.
Hurlbert and her colleagues tested colour preferences in 171 British adults and 37 recent immigrants to the UK from mainland China, with almost equal numbers of men and women. Participants were asked to view around 750 different pairs of colours spanning the entire spectrum of the rainbow, and then were required to indicate which of the two shades they preferred.
The Results
It was found that both male and female subjects actually had a natural preference for the colour blue. This is not surprising; it’s a widely held believe that we all have a genetic predilection for this colour as it is strongly associated with good weather and clean water sources.
However, further examination revealed that the female subjects showed a significant preference for pinkish shades of blue such as lilac. The men were found to prefer pure blue over any other shade.
The study serves to provide further insight into why humans and other primates have developed advanced colour recognition whereas other animals have not? Biologists have previously suggested that we have developed this advanced colour recognition in order to select ripe fruit against a background of green vegetation.
Hubert believes that the findings lend support to this theory as women were typically the fruit gatherers and men were the hunters. It follows, therefore, that women’s colour perception may be more advanced than that of men. The liking for reddish and pinkish tones is thus explained because most fruits and berries are reddish in shade when they are most ripe?
Cultural influences certainly can’t be ruled out; it’s acknowledged that in the West we are exposed to pre-determined colour choices at an early age and in China the colour red is associated with good luck and happiness. However, it’s natural to assume that these cultural influences are also innate and strengthens the argument further?
Conclusions
OK, the results of the study and conclusions drawn are not definitive, but interesting nonetheless? So the next time you opt for a pink laptop or pink mobile phone maybe you just can’t help yourself?