Volatility and fluctuations in preferences for Red, Yellow and Blue colours are indicators of personality traits and biological status Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Medical Hypotheses journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/mehy Volatility and fluctuations in preferences for Red, Yellow and Blue colours are indicators of personality traits and biological status George John Former Vice Chancellor, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, India Former Sr. Adviser, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Apartment : 5140, B 7, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, India A B S T R A C T Response to colour is an outcome of complex interactions between retinal neurophysiology and light. This paper puts forward the hypothesis that the sequence of preferences for the three primary colours Red, Yellow and Blue could provide cues to the personality of an individual. The sequence of preferences will harbour hidden patterns or algorithms that are linked to personality traits. The fluctuations or volatility observed in these preferences carefully recorded over a large number of observations will throw up interesting patterns that can be linked to personality traits. The data from a number of subjects will be used to identify similarities in colour preference patterns that match with personality types that have been determined using standardised tools for identifying personality types. The protocols to be followed for testing the hypothesis have been detailed. Statistical analyses of the data sets are suggested. The subjects that will be studied will hopefully be a source of data that will lead to unveiling the complexities of various personality types and personality traits. It will not be out of place to assume that the data generated can be extrapolated to read the biological and physiological conditions also. Introduction Why do two colours, put one next to the other, sing ?–Pablo Picasso As preposterous as it may seem, this paper puts forward with some audacity the proposition that preference for the primary colours Red, Yellow and Blue, and the underlying volatility in these preferences will reveal the personality types at one level; and also provide a window to the biological and physiological status of an individual. This can reveal information at various levels such as the present health, and susceptibility to and likelihood of a range of ailments. Consequentially, this can be extrapolated to map the health status and predict the life span of an individual. Since biological systems are guided by algorithms [1–5], their unravelling is expected to provide tools and information that can be used to predict lifespan with a fair degree of accuracy, and also identify the event that is likely to bring about the end. This hypothesis has originated from the premise that human re- sponse to colour is triggered by deep seated ‘biological impulses’ that are manifested through various physiological cum psychological re- sponses. A number of studies are available on colour preferences and substantial data has been generated to map personality types [6–10]. Many of these have centred around the use of various colours and colour groups to get a cue of the human personality and its underlying complexities. Families of different colours have been used for inter- preting personality types but these have not met with complete success in unveiling personality types. A more researched paper here might have standardised or toned down the statements; got concepts rounded off, leading to a rather conventional discourse. The radical approach of this paper is primarily because it is based on limited research, but on large surmises that went into its preparation, for constructing a hypothesis that from the be- ginning will require a ‘Bayesian approach’ and scientific scaffolding to be able to draw robust conclusions. Brief review of literature The basis of colour identification has been investigated by many researchers. It has remained a robust research topic. Studies conducted have largely focused on the mapping of predetermined colour pre- ferences or existing choices. Colour preferences can be used to predict individual personality characteristics. A landmark study [11] laid the foundation for a deep understanding of the subject. Colour perception choices are quite strong and they are dependent on a number of un- derlying factors such as personality types [12,6,7,8,13,14], ethnic background of the subjects [15–18], age [19–24], gender [25–29], education [30], mental status and information processing in such conditions [31–33]. It has been seen that brain activity is modulated by colour preference which implies a correlation between colour pre- ference and personality traits; and colour preference could be a per- vasive aspect of visual processing [34]. Marketing strategies place a lot of importance on effects of colour and one interesting finding shows that colour results in instant subconscious judgement [35]. Ecological https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2018.10.029 Received 10 October 2018; Accepted 31 October 2018 E-mail address: gjohn@nic.in. Medical Hypotheses 122 (2019) 115–119 0306-9877/ © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. T http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03069877 https://www.elsevier.com/locate/mehy https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2018.10.029 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2018.10.029 mailto:gjohn@nic.in https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2018.10.029 http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1016/j.mehy.2018.10.029&domain=pdf valence theory of colour preferences proposes that human colour pre- ferences arise from average affective responses to colour associated objects [9,10]. Preference for colours vary with variation in the hue of colours [36]. In short, considerable volume of literature is available on colour preferences of humans, and colour choice inventorisation is fairly extensive. Colour permeates every aspect of life and colour symbolism has been extensively used even in literature and poetry [37]. The basic structure of the retina has been described along with its intricate relationship with the neurological configuration [38–42]. The sequence of events starting from the falling of light on the eye, to the identification of colours or objects following a complex neurological processing in colour identification have been described by workers [43,44,45,41]. The molecular evolution of vision has been traced [46]. The specialized photoreceptors or cones detect light and also distin- guish specific wavelengths of light or colours [43,45,41,42]. The pro- tein opsin is a fundamental component of photopigment that plays the vital role of tuning colour photoreceptors to specific wavelengths of light ie; colour and provides a richer colour experience [47,43]. The complex neurophysiological mechanism underlying colour recognition is regulated by genes [40,46] and gets altered by impairments [48] and disorders [31,32]. A functional neuropsychological system forms the basis of any personality trait and this is moulded by the combined effect of genes and environment [49]. Existing gaps in knowledge Currently there seem to be no studies on colour preference of pri- mary colours Red, Yellow and Blue, and the underlying volatility of preferences over a series of recordings. Though there are researches showing changes in colour preference due to seasonal variations, pre- ferences linked to liked or disliked coloured objects, or differences within individuals from one time to another [50–53], spontaneity in colour choices [21,22], or a link between impulsiveness and chroma [54], there are no studies that observed changes in preferences over many successive recordings. This clearly underscores the need to cap- ture the momentary changes, fluctuations or volatility in colour pre- ferences if any with reference to the primary colours Red, Yellow and Blue, over a large number of observations, to unravel any underlying patterns that can be linked to personality types. Hence this hypothesis was conceived. The opinion of Karl J. Friston (personal communication, 2018) on the concept was that ‘it may be an interesting way to phe- notype the volatility of prior preferences … and the way in which these fluctuations evolve over time should indeed reflect something about how constant prior beliefs or preferences are’. It is surmised that human response to the primary colours Red, Yellow and Blue would be ‘primeval’ and hence reflective of the per- sonality type to a greater extent than that with other colours. Arguably, the response to individual non primary colours or shades in a family of primary colours will be muted and overlapped in comparison to that for the primary colour itself, thereby reducing its readability ie; restricting the use of results for interpreting personality types. Hypothesis The hypothesis proposed is that the sequence of colour preferences for Red, Yellow and Blue will reveal patterns, fluctuations, waves or volatility that can be matched with personality types. The premise here is that the primary colours Red (R), Yellow (Y) and Blue (B) are the foundations on which colour preferences are determined. Our response to the colours Red, Yellow and Blue is a reflection of a ‘primeval’ urge or response. This gets ‘muted’ when the colours Red, Yellow and Blue are used along with the shades of the same colour or with shades of other colours. The primary colours Red, Yellow and Blue cannot be created from other colours but they are the base from which other colours can be created. Hence, unravelling and understanding the patterns and volatility in preferences for these three colours will provide a key to ‘deep seated aspects’ of the human personality and the same can be extrapolated to read the physiological or biological status that might be reflective even of health conditions. It must be noted that the use of a ‘family’ of colours of a primary colour masks the response of the subject and therefore provides an inaccurate cue to a person or his personality type. Hence the proposi- tion is that colour preferences should be ascertained only in response to the primary colours RYB arranged in any fixed manner. The shade and chroma of the primary colours used will be as determined by International standards. The choices will be recorded under the fol- lowing two situations to test the hypothesis. (i) The preference sought to be recorded here is one that is based on the ‘impulse’ of the subject ie; immediately on seeing the colour plate. It should not be a choice that is arrived at by weighing the possible options. It should also not be one where the choice is al- ready made or predetermined ie; before the colour plate is shown. In other words, it should be a spontaneous choice ie one that is presumably from the ‘sub conscious mind’. Spontaneity is the es- sence of the choice and the key element in this component of the study. (ii) In the second approach, the choice sequences are recorded not on an impulse as in the above, but after the subject takes a few seconds to mull over the choice that he wants to indicate. Methods to test the hypothesis Each subject that will be selected will be healthy and free from neurological disorders. The subject will be briefed on the study and what is expected of him. He will then be asked to indicate a preference sequence for the colours when the filled colour circles of Red, Yellow and Blue (RYB) arranged on a colour plate are shown. The Red, Yellow and Blue colours used will be as per International Colour Standards and they will be on a white background. Before the test is started, the subject should be asked to look at a white screen for about 30s to minimise or eliminate any colours that may persist from objects seen prior to the start of the experiment. The preference sequence indicated by a subject can be for instance as RYB, BYR, BRY etc using a fixed sequence shown to the subject.This will be repeated for about 500 times, preferably 1000 times and the preferences recorded manually or by using a device where the preference sequences are keyed in. (i) Recording ‘impulse’ based choice. It should be explained to the subject that the essential thing here is that the preference sequence indicated should be a spontaneous one and not one that is arrived at by mulling over various possibilities. The subject is required to indicate the sequence of preference immediately on seeing the colour plate and momentarily close his eyes before looking at the colour plate again for recording the next sequence of preferences. A subject may have a liking for a particular colour, for example Blue colour, but indicating this as the first preference always is not a spon- taneous response but expression of a predetermined choice. It should be a preference expressed on impulse ie; when the eye is opened to observe the colour plate. It is essential to instruct the subjects that they are required to indicate only their spontaneous preference. The study is designed to map the spontaneous preference arising on an impulse and not one that is based on a decision, since a decision made is an outcome that is arrived at by considering various possibilities. The key here is to record an impulse and not a considered decision. The cooperation of the subject is very important. (ii) Recording ‘considered choice’ A separate of set of experiments can be conducted where a subject is G. John Medical Hypotheses 122 (2019) 115–119 116 allowed to indicate the order of preference after careful consideration of the RYB sequence on the colour plate. This method will record pre- ferences that have been decided by the subject after a deliberation within himself. The preference exercised here is a reflection of prior preferences and inherent bias unlike the earlier set of recordings based on impulse. This data set will greatly enlarge the scope for testing the hypothesis proposed. The volatility patterns are likely to be different in both the cases. (iii) Notes The colour plate showing the three filled colour circles (with white background) can be of different sizes and placed at different distances as shown in Fig. 1. The shape chosen is a circle because it is presumably the least distracting shape. The colours RYB can be arranged in 6 per- mutation combinations (RYB,RBY,YBR,YRB,BRY,BYR). The distances/ size of colour circles provide 3 possibilities ie; a total of 18 combina- tions (Table 1). However the recording should be done only with one combination at a time since multiple combinations will clutter the input channel ie; give too many inputs to the brain that will require the brain to ‘recalibrate’ every time, thus impeding the flow of choices which is essential for identifying possible patterns. Also, about 500 non-stop recordings are considered a good database for drawing conclusions. It is also to be noted that if the recording does not proceed, say beyond 300 times, it cannot be continued subsequently for another 200 times after a time interval. In such cases they will have to be treated as two separate recordings, though falling short of the target. LED or LCD screens are not recommended. The recording room must be free of sounds and if necessary, ear plugs provided to the subjects so that inadvertent phe- nomena like ‘colour hearing’, not necessarily synaesthesia [55,56] are avoided. Possible results and its implications The studies will generate considerable data and a fairly large number of colour preference sequences from many individuals that can be subjected to various statistical analyses. The statistical treatment will hopefully reveal colour preference patterns that can be linked to per- sonality types of subjects. If validated and found linked/correlated to personality types, it would offer a simple tool for clinical research and to identify or ‘read’ personality types. The preference sequences re- corded can be rearranged with a shifting of the last preference to the 200 cm Red (R) Yellow (Y) Blue (B) 60 cm diameter 100 cm 30 cm diameter 50 cm 15 cm diameter Subject Fig. 1. Showing the distances from the subject and the corresponding sizes of colour circles for testing colour preference of Red (R), Yellow (Y) and Blue (B). (Colours as per Internationally accepted stan- dards for shades and chroma). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.) Table 1 Colour sequences, distances and diameter of colour circles suggested for testing. (see Fig. 1 for schematic representation). Sl no Colour sequence to be tested Distance and diameter of the colour circles 1 RYB 50cm; 15cm 100cm; 30cm 200cm; 60cm 2 RBY 50cm; 15cm 100cm; 30cm 200cm; 60cm 3 YBR 50cm; 15cm 100cm; 30cm 200cm; 60cm 4 YRB 50cm; 15cm 100cm; 30cm 200cm; 60cm 5 BRY 50cm; 15cm 100cm; 30cm 200cm; 60cm 6 BYR 50cm; 15cm 100cm; 30cm 200cm; 60cm R (Red), Y (Yellow), B (Blue). (as per Internationally accepted standards for shades and chroma). G. John Medical Hypotheses 122 (2019) 115–119 117 first place, and in the next rearrangement, again the last one shifted to the first position (Table 2). Various other rearrangements can also be generated. In this manner the basic colour preference sequence can be used to generate sequence variants that can be subjected to further statistical analyses. It is purely speculative that this paradigm can be useful for testing preferences with three different shapes, three different words or any other parameter. It is conjectural that the colours RYB have a 'neurophysiological nexus' and preference sequences for this ‘colour triplet’ RYB will yield interesting patterns or become ‘codons’ of personality mapping. Statistical analysis The tests that could be used would depend on the nature of data and the sequences therein. Pearson Chi Square test and ANOVA can be considered. A Bayesian model is essential to construct the emerging conclusion and test its validity over a period of time. The usefulness of Apriori algorithm for analysis needs to be examined, perhaps after some data has been generated. Stochastic transitivity analysis can also be considered. 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John Medical Hypotheses 122 (2019) 115–119 119 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0180 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0180 https://www.color-meanings.com/color-symbolism-in-literature-what-do-colors-mean-in-literature-and-poetry/ https://www.color-meanings.com/color-symbolism-in-literature-what-do-colors-mean-in-literature-and-poetry/ http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0190 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0190 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0195 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0195 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0200 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0200 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0205 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0205 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0210 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0215 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0215 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0220 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0220 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0230 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0235 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0235 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_71-5. Springer Science +Business Media New York https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_71-5. Springer Science +Business Media New York http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0245 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0245 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0250 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0250 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0255 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0255 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0260 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0260 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0265 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0265 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0270 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0270 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0275 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0275 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0280 http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0306-9877(18)31055-7/h0280 Volatility and fluctuations in preferences for Red, Yellow and Blue colours are indicators of personality traits and biological status Introduction Brief review of literature Existing gaps in knowledge Hypothesis Methods to test the hypothesis Possible results and its implications Statistical analysis Conflict of interest Funding Acknowledgement Supplementary data References