Light, or its absence, is a change that accompanies us throughout our lives. However, we are so accustomed to day and night, light and darkness, that we do not even take these transformations into account. The curious thing is that light can affect our behavior, decisions and emotional states, although most of the time we are not aware of it.
1. The more intense the light, the more intense the emotions
Whether you feel good or bad, emotions will be more intense in a brightly lit environment. Or at least that is what researchers at the University of Toronto claim. In a series of experiments in which light and its intensity were manipulated, participants were exposed to different stimuli specially designed to awaken different emotional states, from physical attraction to aggression. Thus, these psychologists were able to observe that a bright light makes us experience emotions more intensely and react in a more extreme way, which has been dubbed the “Incandescence Effect.”
Why?
These researchers believe that bright light directly affects our emotional system, making us perceive more heat, which can act as an emotional trigger. In fact, it is not that light generates emotions but that it intensifies them. Therefore, one of the practical implications of this study is: if you want to make a more rational and less emotional decision, do it in a dimly lit environment.
2. A flashing light makes us adopt extreme postures
A steady light does not have the same effect as a flashing one – the latter draws our attention strongly, whereas the former goes almost unnoticed. However, researchers at Utrecht University wondered whether a flashing light could influence our behaviour and decisions. To test this, they approached people who were simply walking down the street and asked them to imagine that a co-worker received the same or higher bonus than the one they had been given. Half of the people were asked how fair they considered the system used to distribute these bonuses to be. Interestingly, those who were asked near a flashing light showed more extreme positions, either indicating that the system was very fair or extremely unfair.
Why?
These psychologists believe that the answer lies in the fact that we associate flashing lights with danger, so they activate our alarm system, which drives us to make quicker decisions and act in more extreme ways, even if our lives are not actually in danger. This experiment shows us that if we want to make good decisions and avoid extremes, it is better to look for an environment in which there are no signs that could activate our alarm system because this will even affect our sense of justice.
3. Blue light improves attention and enhances concentration
When it comes to light, it’s not just the intensity that counts, but also the colour. Researchers at Harvard University have shown this. The psychologists exposed one group of people to short-wavelength blue light and another group to green light. The participants simply had to carry out their daily work under this light for a period of 6.5 hours. After this time, they underwent tests that assessed their reaction time to stimuli, their level of attention and brain waves. They were able to see that blue light improved concentration and attention, even if people were not aware of it.
Why?
Blue light directly stimulates our brain and activates numerous areas, including the thalamus and brain stem, which are involved in regulating our level of alertness. The amygdala and hippocampus are other structures that also respond to blue light, which are linked to emotional and memory processes. So now you know that if you want to improve your performance, it is not necessary to resort to a cup of coffee; a lamp that emits blue light in the workplace will be more than enough. However, you must be careful because exposure to this light at night can affect the quality of your sleep.
Sources:
Jing Xu, A. &. Labroo, A. (2014) Incandescent affect: Turning on the hot emotional system with bright light. Journal of Consumer Psychology ; 24(2): 207–216.
Rahman, S.A. et. Al. (2014) Diurnal Spectral Sensitivity of the Acute Alerting Effects of Light. Sleep ; 37(2): 271-281.
Vandenbos, K., et. Al. (2008) Justice and the human alarm system: The impact of exclamation points and flashing lights on the justice judgment process. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology ; 44(2): 201-219.
