Baker-Miller Pink, also known as Schauss pink or P-618, is a tone of pink that was originally created by color psychologist Alexander Schauss in the 1970s. Schauss found that exposure to this particular shade of pink had a calming and stress-reducing effect on prison inmates. Since then, Baker-Miller pink has been utilized in a variety of settings, from schools to hospitals, to promote tranquility and reduce aggression. But what exactly is the shade of this intriguing color? Let’s take a closer look at the specifics behind Baker-Miller pink.
The History of Baker-Miller Pink
As mentioned, Baker-Miller pink was first developed by Alexander Schauss while he was director of life sciences at the American Institute for Biosocial Research. Schauss was experimenting with how color could influence emotions and behavior. In 1979, Schauss and correctional officer Ron Baker began testing the color at the Naval Correctional Institute in Seattle.
The particular shade of pink was painted on the walls of prison holding cells. Schauss and Baker then tracked the behavior of inmates placed in the pink cells. What they found was a notable decrease in aggressive and violent behavior from prisoners in the pink holding areas. This led to the tone being named Baker-Miller pink, after the researcher and correctional officer.
After the initial experiments, Baker-Miller pink started being used in other correctional facilities. The results continued to show that the specific shade of pink had calming effects on inmates. This suggested that the color could have widespread applications beyond prisons.
How Baker-Miller Pink Works
So what exactly about this shade of pink elicits such mellowing effects? While more research is still needed, there are some leading theories behind why Baker-Miller pink reduces aggression and anxiety.
One idea is that the color has a weakening or inhibiting effect on muscle strength. By some accounts, exposure to Baker-Miller pink makes people feel weaker, which in turn makes them less likely to react aggressively. The pinkish hue may also have a calming effect on brain activity.
Additionally, from a color psychology perspective, pink is considered soothing, gentle, and non-threatening. Baker-Miller pink is not an overly feminine or bold shade of pink. Instead, it is muted andhas grayish undertones. This may contribute to its relaxing connotations.
Uses of Baker-Miller Pink
Over the decades, Baker-Miller pink has been utilized in a variety of settings beyond correctional facilities:
| Schools | Painted on walls to reduce bullying and improve focus |
| Hospitals | Used on patient room walls to lessen pre-surgery anxiety |
| Dental and doctor’s offices | Found in waiting rooms to minimize stress |
| Residential treatment facilities | Used in bedrooms and common areas to aid relaxation |
| Sporting venues | Locker room walls painted pink to ease tension between opponents |
The color has also been incorporated into products like Rescue Remedy, stress relief chewing gum. Overall, research has continued to demonstrate the unique soothing effects of this specific pink shade.
The Specifications of Baker-Miller Pink
So what are the actual specifications that define the shade of Baker-Miller pink? The tone was originally formulated using the Pantone Matching System (PMS), which is a proprietary color space used in printing and design.
Here are the defining Pantone and RGB values for Baker-Miller pink:
| Pantone | PMS 182 |
| RGB | R: 255, G: 145, B: 175 |
| Hex | #FF91AF |
As shown, when converting the Pantone to the RGB color mode, Baker-Miller pink has a red value of 255, a green value of 145, and a blue value of 175. This gives the pinkish-purple tone that Schauss found optimal for reducing aggression.
The specifications have been vital for precisely reproducing the shade in various applications, from paints to print materials. However, there are some close variations on the color that retain similar effects. Generally, lighter and muted pinks with gray undertones most closely align with the tranquility attributes of Baker-Miller pink.
Baker-Miller Pink vs. Other Pink Shades
To get a better sense of what distinguishes Baker-Miller pink, it helps to compare it side-by-side with some other tones of pink:
| Color Name | Shade | Use |
| Baker-Miller Pink | Light muted purple-pink | Reducing aggression and stress |
| Baby Pink | Very light pink | Nurseries, baby showers |
| Cotton Candy | Medium bright pink | Playful, feminine |
| Hot Pink | Vivid pink | Fun, energetic |
While shades like baby pink and cotton candy are softer, they lack the subtle grayish quality that makes Baker-Miller pink uniquely soothing. Hot pink, on the other hand, is too intense to have a relaxing effect.
How to Use Baker-Miller Pink
If you want to harness the benefits of Baker-Miller pink, there are a couple of ways to incorporate it:
– **Paint walls** – Painting a full wall or accent wall in a room is the most immersive way to utilize the shade. Offices, classrooms, bedrooms, and hospitals are ideal for full pink walls.
– **Add pink accents** – Items like pillows, lamps, and other accessories in Baker-Miller pink can add pops of color to evoke calm. Focus on areas like living rooms, waiting rooms, and bedrooms.
– **Use pink lighting** – Colored light bulbs or lamp gels allow temporarily bathing a space in Baker-Miller pink light. Try pink lighting in areas where you want to promote relaxation.
– **Wear pink clothing** – While likely subtly less effective than surrounding environments, wearing some Baker-Miller pink may help you feel more at ease. Opt for muted, light pink tones.
No matter how it’s used, keep the proper specifications of Baker-Miller pink in mind to get the full tranquilizing results. Testing paint chips or swatches against the Pantone and RGB values helps ensure you have the right shade.
Conclusion
In summary, Baker-Miller pink is a specific light purple-tinged pink shade developed back in the 1970s. Extensive use in prisons and other settings consistently demonstrates this muted pink’s unique ability to defuse aggressive and anxious feelings. While more research is warranted, the color seems to have an inhibiting physiological and psychological effect that results in calmer behavior and moods. When precisely reproduced using the Pantone and RGB definitions, Baker-Miller pink can be an impactful non-pharmaceutical tool for minimizing stress and confrontation in a variety of environments and situations.
