Morgan G A, Goodson F E, Jones T
Am J Psychol. 1975 Mar;88(1):125-30.
Thirty-six subjects, twelve each at 6, 12, and 18 years of age, were asked which of four colors (blue, green, yellow, or red) they were reminded of by each of four temperatures (containers at 4, 23, 35, or 45 deg C). More 18-year-olds than expected by chance made each of the conventional associations: hot/red, warm/yellow, cool/green, cold/blue. The 12-year-olds reliably made the hot/red association but none of the others. No more 6-year-olds than expected by chance made any of the conventional associations. The results suggest that the conventional associations are founded on a loosely held cultural norm rather than on an evolutionary or physiological basis.
36名受试者，分别为12名6岁、12名12岁和12名18岁，被问及四种温度（4℃、23℃、35℃或45℃的容器）中的每一种会让他们联想到四种颜色（蓝色、绿色、黄色或红色）中的哪一种。与随机预期相比，更多的18岁受试者做出了每种传统联想：热/红色、暖/黄色、凉/绿色、冷/蓝色。12岁的受试者确实做出了热/红色的联想，但没有做出其他联想。6岁的受试者做出任何一种传统联想的人数都没有超过随机预期。结果表明，这些传统联想是基于一种宽松的文化规范，而不是基于进化或生理基础。
