Introduction
The present study aimed to examine the effect of blue and red uniform colors on competitive anxiety and self-confidence in virtual sports competitions.
Objective
We hypothesized that blue is related to higher levels of self-confidence (a feeling related to the approach motivational system), whereas red is related to higher levels of anxiety (a feeling related to the avoidance motivational system).
Method
Participants were confronted with an opponent dressed in either blue or in red.
Results
Results revealed that participants who were exposed to an opponent in blue reported a higher level of self-confidence, while those who were exposed to an opponent in red reported a higher level of cognitive anxiety, supporting the view that blue (red) is related to the approach (avoidance) motivational system.
Conclusion
Our findings incite a pursuit of the examination of the relationship between blue, red, competitive anxiety, and self-confidence in sport competitions.
Résumé
Introduction
La présente étude cherche à examiner l’effet des couleurs bleue et rouge sur l’anxiété et la confiance en soi dans un contexte de compétition virtuelle.
Objectif
Nous posons l’hypothèse que le bleu est associé à des hauts niveaux de confiance en soi (sentiment lié au système motivationnel d’approche), alors que le rouge est associé à des hauts niveaux d’anxiété (sentiment lié au système motivationnel d’évitement).
Anthropologists revealed that certain animals (e.g. moths, bumblebees, robins, etc.) had a preference for the color blue (Keasar et al., 1997 and Kelber, 1997), whereas others (e.g., chickens, pigeons, mice, etc.) were repulsed by the color red (e.g., Prayitno et al., 1997 and Sahgal and Iversen, 1975). Psychologists also found that these two colors may be related to different kinds of motivation: it was shown that blue facilitates creativity (Mehta & Zhu, 2009), whereas red generated avoidance behaviors (Elliot, Maier, Binser, Friedman, & Pekrun, 2009), suggesting the view that blue and red are related to approach and avoidance motivations, respectively (e.g., Smeesters & Liu, 2011). Indeed, in everyday life, blue (red) is often associated with openness (danger) (e.g., Smeesters & Liu, 2011), pleasant (unpleasant) feelings (Moller, Elliot, & Maier, 2009) and sensations (Michael & Rolhion, 2008).
