It is no secret that humans are attracted to shiny things. This is a fact born up by the popularity of such products as the iPhone gold, diamond jewelry, shoes with studs, chrome bumpers and many other examples. Scientists have been interested in figuring out the psychology behind the human obsession with shiny objects, leading them to conduct research into the topic.
Studies into why people are attracted to shiny objects
The human attraction to shiny things has been analyzed by scientists in six different studies. The studies investigated what made people prefer shiny items as well as whether it was a systematic bias for them.
In one study, children and adults were shown advertisements that were printed on glossy and matte paper. The study’s results demonstrated that the participants always preferred the advertisements that were printed on glossy paper over matte paper. The study involved children who were 4 years old, meaning that they were too young to understand the link between shininess and expensiveness. This showed that the preference for shiny items is natural and not associated with the acquisition of wealth.
In a second part of the study, 46 participants were blindfolded. Twenty-three of them received glossy paper while the remaining 23 were given matte paper. Even though they could not see what they had been given, the participants who received glossy paper judged it to be of superior quality just by its feel. Interestingly, the participants who received glossy paper were asked to imagine what might be represented on it. The participants stated that they pictured landscapes with water in them. Scientists believe that this demonstrates a possible link between water and a preference for shiny objects.
Further links between water and shiny object attractions
Other studies have also pointed to the link between water and the human preference for objects that are shiny. In one study, participants said that aquatic pictures were printed on glossier paper than were desert images even though both image types were printed on the same type of paper.
In another study, 126 participants were divided into three groups by researchers. In the first group, the participants ate biscuits followed by water. The second group were given biscuits but did not receive water, and the third group was a control group that didn’t receive either. Afterwards, all of the participants were asked to evaluate eight pictures of which half were printed on glossy paper and half were printed on matte paper. All of them preferred the pictures that were printed on glossy paper, but the thirsty group showed a higher preference for them than the others.
After these studies, the scientists noted that the findings show that our preference for shiny things is linked to our need for water. They believe that every person’s preference for shininess has deep evolutionary roots and that we are attracted to things that serve a purpose for fulfilling our innate needs.
By understanding the psychology behind the human attraction to shiny things, it is easy to understand why people love the appearance of chrome. PChrome chrome spray can provide you with the look that you want with a mirror-like, reflective surface that is durable. To learn more, contact us today.