# Favorite Colors **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2001, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-colors/69424 "2001-06-20T03:17:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DoperChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DoperChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoperChic)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-colors/69424/1 "2001-06-20T03:17:52Z")
How does it come to be that people have a preference to certain colors? Is it ingrained into us before we are born or is the preference the result of exposure to colors over the years(nature vs. nuture)? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-colors/69424/2 "2001-06-20T12:43:15Z")
Here’s an interesting site about color and personality (see index on the left) [http://library.thinkquest.org/50065/psych/theories.html?tqskip=1](http://library.thinkquest.org/50065/psych/theories.html?tqskip=1) I know that in my experience, my favorites have changed over the years and a lot is due to my age and cultural/style changes. That lilac bedroom I loved as a little girl would today be painted a deeper violet, etc. The site above mentions different preferences between genders and age groups. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-colors/69424/3 "2001-06-20T13:20:56Z")
I know that Burger King colored its interiors yellow and orange because it supposedly made people hungrier. I know this doesn’t have to do with preference, but it does give some clue as to the ability of colors to affect our subconcious and for a color to have similar affects on people. Just a start and a cool tidbit of Fast Food Folly’s to amaze your friends. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-colors/69424/4 "2001-06-20T13:31:32Z")
_Not exactly a “favorite color” post, but relevent…_ As an extension of KidCharlemagne’s post, I have a similar story. When I started junior high, the school had just been repainted the summer before. The halls and banks of lockers were painted bright red and orange and yellow, while the classrooms were either pale blue or pale green or lavendar. One hall had the upper walls bright red, with yellow lockers, then you’d turn a corner and the walls would be bright orange with red lockers and so on. The theory was that the bright colors stimulated you while going to classes, while the subdued pastels in the classroom was supposed to be calming and somehow conducive to learning. Whatever. My favorite color has always been blue. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-colors/69424/5 "2001-06-20T13:38:56Z")
From the website linked to above: > [@](#): > > Just as our personalities are continually evolving, the colors we prefer also vary. The colors we enjoy the most, change as a result of our age and sex. So, when you have a sex change operation, your favorite color changes, too? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-colors/69424/6 "2001-07-07T03:15:27Z")
Just a bump as I have recently wondered about this. My niece has just turned 1 year old and is noticeably drawn to the color orange. Her favorite stuffed animal is orange. If you hold out different t-shirts, she will choose the orange one everytime. If a favorite color is a learned behavior, where did she learn this, as she’s been attracted to this color since the crib? So is it possible that a person is born with a favorite color and then as you get older and your tastes differ so does your favorite color? ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2001, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-colors/69424/7 "2001-07-07T03:25:17Z")
When I was a kid I used to like blue and green alot, then when I was in highschool I met this girl who wore black alot. We started hanging out all the time so I started wearing black tee shirts. Then I wore black boots. And then I went all out with the black trenchcoat, top hat and umbrella. So black was, of course my favorite color. Ok, so I’m lying but this happens all the time.