Color psychology studies the way in which colors impact human behavior, therefore, it establishes that each shade has a meaning and a psychological effect that varies depending on different cultures. In fact, it is an entire communication language that is applied in various aspects of life such as marketing, education, neuroscience, among many others. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the renowned Swiss psychologist Carl Jung studied the effects of colors on the human mind and confirmed that while some colors can calm you, others can exalt your senses.
To delve a little deeper into the topic, in the following Psychology-Online article we will explore the psychology of color in detail: the meaning of colors and their applications.
What is color psychology
Color psychology is a field of study that examines how colors affect our perceptions, emotions and behaviors. It is based on the idea that colors can have a psychological impact on people and that different shades can evoke different emotional and cognitive responses.
It is a field in which it is considered that every color has cultural associations and symbolic specific, as well as universal psychological effects. For example, red is often related to energy, passion and excitement, while blue can evoke feelings of calm, serenity and confidence.
However, these associations may vary depending on culture and individual experiences. As an example, in China brides usually dress in red, while for funerals in that culture people usually wear white, something not common in Western culture.
Brief history of color psychology
It was Sir Isaac Newton, who late 17th century He defined what the color spectrum was, so he determined the definition of the wavelength for each coloration. However, it was the Swiss Carl Jung who was the first to develop a type of cognitive therapy so that his patients could express their emotions through colors and images.
Due to the impact that shades have on the human mind, today color is essential in various aspects of our lives, more than anything in relation to advertising and marketing.
Principles of color psychology
In addition to cultural associations, several studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of colors on emotions and behavior. Some of the key principles of color psychology include:
- Cultural Associations: Colors have specific cultural and symbolic associations. For example, red may be associated with love and passion in some cultures, while in others it may be a color of danger or anger.
- Emotional effects: They can evoke different emotional responses, which is why some warm colors, such as red and orange, can generate emotions of energy or excitement. On the other hand, cool colors, such as blue and green, can evoke feelings of calm and relaxation. However, these emotional responses can vary between people.
- Contrast and color matching: Contrast between colors can affect visual perception and readability. That is why some educational strategies include mind maps or diagrams with warm and striking colors.
- Context and application: The context in which a color is used can influence its psychological effect. For example, the color used in a hospital environment can have an impact on the mood and comfort of patients. Furthermore, the use of colors in different applications, such as advertising, web design or interior design, can have specific objectives in terms of the emotional response that is sought to be generated.
Keep in mind that individual experiences influence how colors are perceived, so color psychology is not a universal law nor is it set in stone.
How colors influence emotions
The psychology of color is very present in our lives, since we tend to talk about warm tones when we want the place to be pleasant and welcoming or cold tones when they transmit almost no emotions. Next, we show you some colors and their meaning:
- White: this is one of the colors that has a more universal meaning, because in Eastern and Western culture it is related to calm, purity and peace. Furthermore, for marketing it has to do with youth, elegance and modernity.
- Black: like white, it is a color that evokes elegance and solemnity. However, in some cultures it is related to death, mourning and loss, but in ancient Egypt it was the color used to represent fertility. Also, it has to do with the mysterious, the unknown, the sober and the high-end. For example, in vehicles, the most luxurious and expensive cars are usually .
- Blue: This is one of the most used colors in large corporations because it is associated with calm and wisdom. Furthermore, it represents the sea and the sky, which are the most abundant natural elements. In health centers it is common to find this color because it evokes cleanliness, health and sanity. On the other hand, it can mean coldness and remoteness.
- Red: without a doubt, this is one of the colors that attracts the eye the most, because it has a strong and deep chromatic wave. Therefore, it is associated with passion, energy and love. Also, it has to do with danger and vitality, since it is the tone that blood has.
- Yellow: Yellow is a warm tone that is associated with happiness, joy and energy at its best. It also represents life, money, wealth and abundance. Now, as it is a very striking tone, it is usually used on small surfaces, since it can alter the senses a little and exalt emotions.
- Purple: it is a color that represents luxury, truth and spiritualism, but, on the other hand, it is associated with decadence and suppression of emotions.
- Green: Green represents nature, care and hope, which is why it is also used a lot in therapies and teaching centers.
- Orange: it is a combination between yellow and red, therefore, it is a dynamic shade that calls to action and represents energy and desire.
- Pink: it is a warm color that transmits love, patience, sweetness and joy. It has a lot of power in female psychology and calls for calm and femininity.
- Brown: is a warm, earthy tone found in the natural color palette. It is often associated with earth, wood and other natural elements. In this article you will find more information about it.
In short, colors have a strong influence on human emotions because it is related to some biological functions and cognitive perception, although the meaning can vary by culture. However, it is a fact that in nature the color red represents danger for some species, just as it happens with people due to some evolutionary elements that we still maintain as a species.
Applications of color psychology
Color psychology can be applied in various fields such as:
- In design: in the design of logos and packaging, colors are used strategically to influence the perception of the brand and generate certain emotions in consumers.
- In therapy: color therapy is used as a way to influence the mood and emotions of individuals.
- In marketing: color is used to identify a brand with its target audience or audience.
- In education: generally, educational facilities use a specific color palette in their environment to calm the emotions and attitudes of students.
If you want to know more about this topic you can read the article. However, it is important to keep in mind that color psychology is a complex field and responses to colors can vary between people.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Cañellas, AM (1979). Color psychology. Maina, 35-37.
- Heller, E. (2004). Color psychology. Available at https://biblioteca.uazuay.edu.ec/buscar/item/57237
- Murga Machaca, DR (2019). Color psychology in marketing.