Abstract
Fading red? No evidence that color of trunks influences outcomes in the ultimate fighting championship (UFC)
Highlights
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 play a role in these dominance contests
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
Summary
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 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.
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