Impact of Uniform Colors in Sports

-

The colour of the uniform of a sports team can lead to significant consequences. A paper written by Thomas Gilovich and Mark Frank has addressed how the colour of a sports team’s uniform can impact the team’s behaviour. The research was based on the idea that in various cultures, dark colours are usually linked with negativity unlike light colours. When coming to sports uniforms, Gilovich and Frank tried to find whether sports teams having uniforms in black are usually more aggressive compared to teams having non-black uniforms.
To evaluate, researchers employed several research paradigms. They showed images of uniforms of the NHL (National Hockey League) and NFL (National Football League) teams to the study participants. People who weren’t sports fans were chosen as study participants to avoid biases caused by knowledge of the teams. The participants rated every uniform on the dimensions of timid or aggressive, good or bad, and nice or mean (as a malevolence index). It was found that the sports teams having black uniforms (for example, the Flyers and Bruins in NHL, and the Raiders and Steelers in NFL) were perceived to be more malevolent compared to teams having non-black uniforms.
These data suggest people perceive aggressiveness to be a function of the colour of the uniform. However, do uniform colours cause any actual differences in the team’s behaviour? Do black garments make people more aggressive?

Effect of Uniform Colour on Behaviour
Researchers examined the impact of uniform colour on behaviour with the use of archival statistics from NHL and NFL. With the data over the time of 1970 to mid-1980s, researchers carried out a comparison of penalty records (using penalty minutes for NHL and penalty yards for NFL) for sports teams having black uniforms versus the teams with non-black uniforms. The results for both the sports showed that teams having black uniforms faced higher penalization compared to teams having non-black uniforms.
The data was supplemented by experimental studies performed to determine whether black uniforms result in harsher penalties due to biased perception of players (by spectators or referees) or whether putting on black uniforms actually increases the aggressive behaviour by people.
To test the first question, university participants were asked to act as referees and it was examined whether they would be biased when penalizing teams in black uniforms. Findings showed that the referees had greater likelihood of calling penalty against teams when they wore black uniforms as compared to white. 
To test the second question, it was assessed whether people would show more aggressive behaviour when they wear black uniforms. It was found by researchers that it was more likely for people to behave aggressively on wearing black uniforms than white uniforms.

 Summing Up

The studies offered evidences that colours impact both how we perceive the behaviour of others as well as how we behave. The results produced substantial interest in how the clothes and the colours we wear can impact behaviour and attitudes. 




Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Glimpse at the History of School Uniforms in New Zealand

-
Image
School uniforms are an integral part of the culture and identity of many schools in New Zealand. Like other aspects of the country, school uniforms have also undergone changes over time. Let’s have a look at the evolution of school uniforms in New Zealand over the last 50 years. 1960s Throughout the history of New Zealand, the gym frock was prominent among girls’ school uniforms. Woollen dresses were the acceptable school uniforms for secondary and primary classes. Many schools gradually replaced the gym frock with simpler tunics and kilts. However, a few schools still have uniforms in the gym frock design, upgrading the cut, colours, and fabric. Image courtesy: horowhenua.kete.net.nz 1970s In the 1970s, brown used to be a popular hue for school dresses. Brown leather shoes and long socks remained a standard for many girls’ schools up to the 1990s. 1980s No major changes took place in uniform fashion within 1977 and 1982. This summer school dress was worn by st...
Read more

A List of 7 Different Types of School Uniforms Around the World

-
No matter whether students love or hate them, uniforms are an important part of school curriculum these days. Unarguably, uniforms instil a sense of unity and pride in the minds of the student. It also helps mitigate differences among students based on their social and financial status. Some countries such as the United States, Australia, and India allow the schools to choose their style and colour for their uniforms, while Vietnam and Bhutan insist on uniforms based on their traditional clothing styles. Here’s a list of 7 different types of school uniforms around the world. Keep reading! 1>     Japan Japan formally introduced school uniforms in the late 19 th century. It’s known as “Seifuku” in Japanese and is similar in both, public and private schools. Boys usually wear white coloured shirts, ties and tailored trousers, while girls wear white blouses having sailor-style collar accompanied with pleated skirts. All schools make it mandatory for stude...
Read more

What Are The Benefits of Wearing School Uniform for Kids?

-
Image
Dark blue jackets, skirts, and pants, combined with white shirts – a perfect look of the typical school uniforms. The responsibility of a  schoolwear uniform shop  is to manufacture and supply premium-quality clothing, which can offer extreme comfort to students. Because school uniforms are considered extremely important to wear in private schools.  And whether your school uniform is customized similarly or something completely different, unique school uniforms are mandatory to develop feelings of togetherness amongst students. But this topic (advantages of school uniforms) is still a controversial subject related to schools. From dress codes to encourage children's safety, we will underline some wide-ranging advantages of wearing school uniforms for kids. To get a perfect school uniform for kids, choosing the best  New Zealand School Uniform Suppliers   is extremely important as a responsible parent.    Top 10 Benefits of Wearing School Uniforms f...
Read more