mixed_biscuits
_________________________
Psychological experiment and biological stuff on sex differences in the visual system followed by a bit of speculation:
Biological
components of sex differences in color preference - Anya C. Hurlbert and Yazhu Ling
Biological
components of sex differences in color preference - Anya C. Hurlbert and Yazhu Ling
Thus, while both males and females share a natural preference for ‘bluish’ contrasts, the female preference for ‘reddish’ contrasts further shifts her peak towards
the reddish region of the hue circle: girls’ preference for pink may have evolved on top of a natural, universal preference for blue. We speculate that this sex difference arose from sex-specific functional specializations in the evolutionary division of labour. The hunter- gatherer theory proposes that female brains should be specialized for gathering-related tasks and is supported by studies of visual spatial abilities [7]. Trichromacy and the L–M opponent channel are ‘modern’ adaptations in primate evolution thought to have evolved to facilitate the identification of ripe, yellow fruit
or edible red leaves embedded in green foliage [8]. It is therefore plausible that, in specializing for gathering, the female brain honed the trichromatic adaptations,
and these underpin the female preference for objects ‘redder’ than the background. As a gatherer, the female would also need to be more aware of color information than the hunter. This requirement would emerge as greater certainty and more stability
in female color preference, which we find. An alternative explanation or the evolution of trichromacy is the need to discriminate subtle changes in skin color due to emotional states and social-sexual signals [9]; again, females may have honed these adaptations
for their roles as care-givers and ‘empathizers’
Color preference patterns are nonetheless systematically governed by sensory encoding, and, to a significant extent, predictable.