Fading red? No evidence that color of trunks influences outcomes in the ultimate fighting championship (UFC)

摘要

In fish, reptiles, birds, and primates it has been documented that the color red plays an important role in dominance and threat displays, with the more intimidating individual being associated with winning contests (Pryke, 2009 for review). A much debated paper by Hill and Barton (2005) sparked off research concerning the influence of red attire on combat sports outcomes in humans, arguing that red could also play a role in these dominance contests. Hill and Barton (2005) presented evidence from four combat sports during the 2004 Olympics showing significantly higher win-ratios for red as opposed to blue outfits, suggesting that red clothing could heighten the likelihood of winning. The findings were explained as psychological effects on either one or both of the contestants originating from evolutionary and cultural associations between red and dominance as well as between red and aggression. A study by Feltman and Elliot (2011), using a scenario methodology, found preliminary evidence for both wearing and viewing effects of red equipment on perceptions of dominance and threat.