Colour, culture and placebo response.

Abstract

Cultures have their own preferences for colours, whether these are used in rites or rituals, or whether these carry specific significance for cultures. It is quite possible that some of the colour choices are influenced by visual perceptions. It is also likely that oral traditions may have given historic influences to colours. Even though almost universally the colour red is associated with danger and green with safety, other colours have a varying significance in different cultures. Sometimes at an early stage of development, children start to think about preferences for certain colours. The significance of colours in the choice of tablets for the impact of medication and placebo has not been studied as extensively as it deserves to.