Estimation of time

According to Frank (1993), the colour effects lie on perception of time. It mentioned that in environments with warm colours, time id overestimated. With cool colours, on the other hand, the opposite appears to be true: time is underestimated.

An experiment (Goldstein, in Clark1975) of two groups of salesman in red and green rooms attended a meeting. During this meeting, they have removed their watches. The “red” group guessed that it had more time than the “green” group.

In addition, Goldstein noted that under the influence of red light, time is overestimated. Under green and blue light, the result is in the opposite.

However, in this book another study conducted by American psychologist Porter and Mikellides (1976) produce an opposite results. Two identical twenty-minute lectures were presented to two separate audiences; the one seated in blue theater felted bored feel the lecture lasted longer than it did. The one in red theater found that time had passed quickly and the lecture had been interesting.

Additionally, an experiment performed by a British university was similar. Participants felt time spending faster in brightly coloured surroundings than subtly coloured rooms.

And also, Frank mentioned at the beginning of this book: “every impulse, whether originated externally or internally, result in a short temporary arousal reaction (phasic). Repeated effect will alter the tonic arousal level either upward or downward. At that point, there are changes in the individual’s emotional state.

So, it can be concluded from these experiments and states that colour apparently influence the judgment of time.

Reference:

Mahnke, F. H., and Mahnke, R. H., 1993. Color And Light In Man-made Environments. Canada: John Wiley & Sons.