Experimental studies of the affective value of colors and lines

Abstract

Undergraduates in psychology in groups ranging from 40 to 45, about two-thirds women, participated in these experiments. Four designs involving different line qualities were presented in either blue or red, and subjects checked from a printed list all adjectives appropriate to the design. Different line qualities—circles, squares, angles and waves—were studied by the same method for designs and pictures. Results are as follows: (1) red is happy and exciting, blue is serene, sad and dignified; (2) curves are serene, graceful, and tender-sentimental, angles are robust, vigorous and somewhat more dignified. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)