Why do people associate red with hot and blue with cold

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the associations of colors, specifically red and blue, with temperature perceptions such as hot and cold. Participants explore the biological, sociological, and experiential factors influencing these associations, rather than focusing solely on physical properties.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that blue light has higher energy than red light, challenging the intuitive associations.
  • Others argue that the associations are more rooted in biology and sociology than in physics.
  • One participant suggests that fire, which is often red or yellow, contributes to the perception of red as hot, while ice and cloudy days, which can appear bluish, contribute to the perception of blue as cold.
  • Another participant emphasizes that while there are many examples of red being associated with heat, there are fewer examples of blue being associated with cold, proposing that "not hot" may be equated with cold and "not red" with blue.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the reasons behind color associations with temperature, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the influence of biological and sociological factors on color perception, but the discussion does not resolve the underlying assumptions or definitions related to these associations.

jaydnul
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When in reality, blue light is the higher energy.
 
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Because people's intuition is more a matter of biology and sociology than it is a matter of physics.
 
Fire is kind of red, ice is kind of bluish?
 
Perhaps because fire, bonfires are red-yellow. Embers are red. Hot metal is red. Volcanoes lava is red...

On the other hand. Ice is sometimes bluish. Cloudy days are of higher color temperature, this is more bluish. The sea is blue.

The heat is infrared and we are not sensitive to light (except for the eyes). Too much visible light on our skin are turned into infrared and this is why we notice its energy.

Simon.
 
bubal said:
Perhaps because fire, bonfires are red-yellow. Embers are red. Hot metal is red. Volcanoes lava is red...

On the other hand. Ice is sometimes bluish. Cloudy days are of higher color temperature, this is more bluish. The sea is blue.

The heat is infrared and we are not sensitive to light (except for the eyes). Too much visible light on our skin are turned into infrared and this is why we notice its energy.

Simon.

I see numerous examples of red being associated with hot, but there are fewer examples of blue being cold. I think it may be more along the lines of "not hot" is cold and "not red" is blue.
 

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