Why Prisons Are Painted Baker-Miller Pink — And How Kendall Jenner Used The Same Color For 'Mind Control'
This color has a strange effect on people.
Gts / Shutterstock; Africa images via Canva If you find yourself in prison in the United States, you may find that you have pink cell walls. But there's a method to the madness.
According to color psychology, different colors have different effects on people. For example, the color red has been proven to stimulate passion and anger and has been shown to elevate blood pressure and heart rate, while blue is thought to bring about feelings of calmness and serenity.
And Baker-Miller pink, a sort of Pepto Bismol pink originally developed by mixing one gallon of pure white indoor latex paint with one pint of red trim semi-gloss outdoor paint, is apparently used for mind control.
Photo: Rising Star / Shutterstock
Why are prisons painted Baker-Miller Pink?
In the 1960s and 70s, researcher Alexander Schauss decided to study psychological and physiological responses to the color pink.
By the late 1970s, he claimed to have found a shade of pink, which he called P-618, that had “a marked effect on lowering the heart rate, pulse and respiration as compared to other colors.”
To test his theory, Schauss convinced the directors of the Naval Correctional Institution in Seattle, Baker and Miller (hence the name Baker-Miller pink), to paint the walls of the facility with this pink color.
They then monitored the behavior of the male prisoners and found that “since the initiation of this procedure on 1 March 1979, there have been no incidents of erratic or hostile behavior during the initial phase of confinement," and that it took only 15 minutes of exposure to the color to subdue inmates.
The results of this study led to an explosion in the use of Baker-Miller pink, which was then used in jail intake rooms (or “drunk tanks,” leading to the nickname Drunk Tank Pink), psychiatric hospitals, and even schools.
A 1982 New York Times article described how a juvenile detention center in San Bernadino, California started putting aggressive detainees in a Baker-Miller pink room in which they would “relax, stop yelling and banging, and often fall asleep within 10 minutes.”
The effects of the color were considered so powerful it began to be weaponized by some sports teams.
During the 1980s, Colorado State's football program painted the visiting team’s locker room in Baker-Miller Pink "in an attempt to relax the opposing team — a detrimental physiological state in a highly-charged physical sport. The impact was deemed to be so intrusive that the Western Athletic Conference governing body introduced a rule where both teams’ locker rooms had to be painted the same color."
The same was done to the opposing team locker room at the University of Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium. In 1979, the incoming head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes football team, Hayden Fry, "proceeded to have the room pink-washed in an attempt to unnerve visiting football teams by emasculating them."
Even celebrities have realized the power of Baker-Miller pink.
In 2017, Kendall Jenner reportedly had her living room painted pink due to its reportedly "calming and appetite suppressing qualities." Jenner used the color as a sort of "mind control" on her own brain. She used it to calm her anxiety and suppress her appetite as a psychological diet.
What are the effects of Baker-Miller Pink?
Baker-Miller Pink, also known as "drunk tank pink," is a particular shade of pink that has been studied for its impact on human behavior and emotions.
On the positive side, Baker-Miller Pink is believed to have a calming effect, reducing feelings of aggression and anxiety and promoting relaxation.
It has been used in environments like correctional facilities to control aggressive behavior or tendencies, and may also aid in suppressing appetite, potentially helping with weight loss. Some studies have suggested that it could even have a pain-reducing effect.
However, there are limitations to its applicability. The effects may not be universal, as individuals might respond differently to the color based on their cultural and personal preferences.
The positive effects, such as reduced aggression and anxiety, may also be temporary and diminish over time with prolonged exposure. It should not be seen as a comprehensive solution for addressing complex psychological issues.
Additionally, cultural perceptions and associations with the color might influence its impact on emotions and behavior, making it less effective in some situations.
Does Baker-Miller Pink actually work?
Yes... but then also no.
In 1988, researchers James E. Gilliam, Ph.D. and David Unruh, Ph.D. tested Shauss’ theory of the effects of Baker-Miller pink on blood pressure, pulse rate, grip strength, and performance and found the results weren’t exactly convincing.
They warned that people “exercise caution” when implementing the use of the color.
Schauss himself suggested that the effects of Baker-Miller pink may have more to do with the novelty of seeing the color as opposed to the color itself.
And a 2018 study theorized that the perceived femininity of the color pink in the “exclusively masculine environment” of prison was emasculating and therefore caused the men to behave less aggressively.
Micki Spollen is a YourTango editor and writer, as well as a frequent traveler. Follow her on Instagram and keep up with her travels on her website.