An introduction to the experimental psychology of beauty / by C.W. Valentine.

  • Valentine, C. W. (Charles Wilfred), 1879-1964.
Date:
1919
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introduction to the experimental psychology of beauty / by C.W. Valentine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    acteristics of any or all of the colours are pleasing or displeasing. Furthermore, it is difficult to compare the results of different experiments upon colour, owing to the great efiect of slight variations of shade and satura- tion of the colours used by different experimenters. Mr. Winch’s subjects (7.e. the persons on whom the experiments were performed) were at liberty to think of any shade they chose, while the American subjects had coloured papers of specific shades presented to them. The blues and greens in the American ex- periments might have been somewhat unpleasant shades of blue or green, while the reds and yellows might have been particularly pleasing shades. (This difficulty can now be removed by the use of standard colours and wools which are issued especially for experimental purposes.) Further, we do not yet know how far nationality, with its varying environment, may affect colour preferences. We know that the southern nations of Hurope and tropical peoples seem to prefer warmer and more striking colours than do the people of the colder north. Nor does this appear to be merely a question of degree of culture. The educated women of Germany are fonder of strong, intense colours than the women of Scotland appear to be. Such facts as these must be taken into considera- tion in comparing the results of experiments in dif- ferent countries. We must not assume that different series of experiments are valueless because they happen to give different results. That custom and habit may markedly affect the popularity of a colour is shown by the changes of fashion. A colour really comes to appear more pleas- ing to many when it has been approved for a time as fashionable. Thus we may even expect some varia-