Color and Categorical Claims
Holcombe examines the large literature on colour and psychological functioning, with published claims such as viewing blue causes calmness. Almost all of these claims rest on testing one or a few hues, yet colours such as red are categories made up of many perceptually distinct hues. A general claim about red from one or two red hues is like judging the reliability of two car makes from one car of each. He argues that this methodological problem was omitted from a recent otherwise comprehensive review.
Holcombe examines the large literature on colour and psychological functioning, with published claims such as viewing blue causes calmness. Almost all of these claims rest on testing one or a few hues, yet colours such as red are categories made up of many perceptually distinct hues. A general claim about red from one or two red hues is like judging the reliability of two car makes from one car of each. He argues that this methodological problem was omitted from a recent otherwise comprehensive review.
Written from the abstract as shown on the OpenAlex record, read 2026-11-04.
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Holcombe, A. O. (2019). 'Color and Categorical Claims.' Meta-Psychology, 3, MP.2019.1652. doi:10.15626/MP.2019.1652.