Blue for calm? Green for energy? Yellow for optimism? Color psychology is real, folks. It’s widely discussed in home decor circles as establishing certain moods, vibes, auras, etc. Now, we’re here to give you some info on a less-talked-about color psych issue: your wardrobe. So the next time you’re thinking of donning a red shirt, consider this: Wearing red may get you perceived as more angry than folks wearing more demure colors like blue and gray. According to a new study done by researchers at Durham University, you might want to think twice before donning that red getup.
During the study, 50 men and 50 women were shown digitally manipulated photos of men wearing the three colors and were asked to rank them for aggression and dominance. The targets presented in red were seen as more aggressive, dominant, brave and also more likely to win a competition. Only male participants rated those wearing red as being more dominant, but both sexes were in agreement about it coming off as aggressive.
“We know that the color red has an effect on the human brain. This is embedded in our culture, for example the idea of wearing a red tie — known as a ‘power tie’ — for business, or issuing a red alert,” said Diana Wiedemann, a PH.D student who ran the experiment. “The implications of our research are that people may wish to think carefully about wearing red in social situations and perhaps important meetings, such as job interviews. Being perceived as aggressive or dominant may be an advantage in some circumstances but a disadvantage in others, for example where teamwork or trustworthiness is important.” Okay, okay, so we might think twice about wearing that bold red dress to our next job interview…
Ladies, you might want to take this with a grain of salt though. Note that the study focused only on men. The researchers did not look at how people view women wearing red, but did note that it was a topic for future research. We also want to know if bold red lipstick a la Taylor Swift counts as “wearing” red. Because how could our gal Tay-Tay ever seem aggressive? And also, when it comes to “looking aggressive” we don’t know if the girlboss in us always wants to play by the rules ;)
Do you think red = aggressive? What are your favorite colors to rock? Let us know in the comments below!
(h/t Mashable)
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.