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Ольшванг О. Ю.,

Color Psychology

How Colors Impact Moods, Feelings, and Behaviors

Do you feel anxious in a yellow room? Does the color blue make you feel calm and relaxed? Artists and interior designers have long understood how color can dramatically affect moods, feelings and emotions. It is a powerful communication tool and can be used to signal action, influence mood and cause physiological reactions. Certain colors can raise blood pressure, increase metabolism or cause eyestrain.

Of course, your feelings about color can also be deeply personal and are often rooted in your own experience or culture. For example, while the color white is used in many Western countries to represent purity and innocence, it is seen as a symbol of mourning in many Eastern countries.

Why is color such a powerful force in our lives? What effects can it have on our bodies and minds? Continue reading to further explore the history of color including how it’s used, the effects it may have and some of the most recent research on color psychology.

What Is Color?

In 1666, English scientist Sir Isaac Newton discovered that when pure white light passes through a prism, it separates into all of the visible colors. Newton also found that each color is made up of a single wavelength and cannot be separated any further into other colors.

Further experiments demonstrated that light could be combined to form other colors. For example, red light mixed with yellow light creates an orange color. Some colors, such as yellow and purple, cancel each other out when mixed and result in a white light.

If you have ever painted, you have probably noticed how certain colors can be mixed to create other colors.

Color Psychology – The Psychological Effects of Color

While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, there are some color effects that have universal meaning. Colors in the red area of the color spectrum are known as warm colors and include red, orange and yellow. These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility.

Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are known as cool colors and include blue, purple and green. These colors are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference.

Color Psychology as Therapy

Several ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Chinese, practiced chromotherapy, or using colors to heal. Chromotherapy is sometimes referred to as light therapy or colourology and is still used today as a holistic or alternative treatment.

In this treatment:

- Red was used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.

- Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.

- Orange was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels.

- Blue was believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.

- Indigo shades were thought to alleviate skin problems.

Most psychologists view color therapy with skepticism and point out that the supposed effects of color have been exaggerated. Colors also have different meanings in different cultures. Research has demonstrated in many cases that the mood-altering effects of color may only be temporary. A blue room may initially cause feelings of calm, but the effect dissipates after a short period of time.

Studies have also shown that certain colors can have an impact on performance. Exposing students to the color red prior to an exam has been shown to have a negative impact on test performance. More recently, researchers discovered that the color red causes people to react with greater speed and force, something that might prove useful during athletic activities.

The Color Psychology of Black

- Black absorbs all light in the color spectrum.

- Black is often used as a symbol of menace or evil, but it is also popular as an indicator of power. It is used to represent treacherous characters such as Dracula and is often associated with witchcraft.

- Black is associated with death and mourning in many cultures. It is also associated with unhappiness, sexuality, formality, and sophistication.

- In ancient Egypt, black represented life and rebirth.

- Black is often used in fashion because of its slimming quality.

- Consider how black is used in language: Black Death, blackout, black cat, black list, black market, black tie, black belt.

The Color Psychology of White

- White represents purity or innocence.

- White is bright and can create a sense of space or add highlights.

- White is also described as cold, bland, and sterile. Rooms painted completely white can seem spacious, but empty and unfriendly. Hospitals and hospital workers use white to create a sense of sterility.

Red

- Red is a bright, warm color that evokes strong emotions.

- Red is associated with love, warmth, and comfort.

- Red is also considered an intense, or even angry, color that creates feelings of excitement or intensity.

- Consider how red is used in language: redneck, red-hot, red-handed, paint the town red, seeing red

The Color Psychology of Blue

- Blue is described as a favorite color by many people and is the color most preferred by men.

- Blue calls to mind feelings of calmness or serenity. It is often described as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly.

- Blue can also create feelings of sadness or aloofness.

- Blue is often used to decorate offices because research has shown that people are more productive in blue rooms.

- Blue is one of the most popular colors, but it is one of the least appetizing. Some weight loss plans even recommend eating your food off of a blue plate. Blue rarely occurs naturally in food aside from blueberries and some plums. Also, humans are geared to avoid foods that are poisonous and blue coloring in food is often a sign of spoilage or poison.

- Blue can also lower the pulse rate and body temperature.

- Consider how blue is used in language: blue moon, blue Monday, blue blood, the blues, and blue ribbon.

The Color Psychology of Green

- Green is a cool color that symbolizes nature and the natural world.

- Green also represents tranquility, good luck, health, and jealousy.

- Researchers have also found that green can improve reading ability. Some students may find that laying a transparent sheet of green paper over reading material increases reading speed and comprehension.

- Green has long been a symbol of fertility and was once the preferred color choice for wedding gowns in the 15th-century. Even today, green M & M’s (an American chocolate candy) are said to send a sexual message.

- Green is often used in decorating for its calming effect. For example, guests waiting to appear on television programs often wait in a “green room” to relax.

- Green is thought to relieve stress and help heal. Those who have a green work environment experience fewer stomachaches.

- Consider how green is used in language: green thumb, green with envy, greenhorn.

The Color Psychology of Yellow

- Yellow is a bright that is often described as cheery and warm.

- Yellow is also the most fatiguing to the eye due to the high amount of light that is reflected. Using yellow as a background on paper or computer monitors can lead to eyestrain or vision loss in extreme cases.

- Yellow can also create feelings of frustration and anger. While it is considered a cheerful color, people are more likely to lose their tempers in yellow rooms and babies tend to cry more in yellow rooms.

- Yellow can also increase the metabolism.

- Since yellow is the most visible color, it is also the most attention-getting color. Yellow can be used in small amount to draw notice, such as on traffic sign or advertisements.

The Color Psychology of Purple

- Purple is the symbol of royalty and wealth.

- Purple also represents wisdom and spirituality.

- Purple does not often occur in nature, it can sometimes appear exotic or artificial.

Color Psychology – Reactions to Brown

- Brown is a natural color that evokes a sense of strength and reliability.

- Brown can also create feelings of sadness and isolation.

- Brown brings to mind feeling of warmth, comfort, and security. It is often described as natural, down-to-earth, and conventional, but brown can also be sophisticated.

The Color Psychology of Orange

- Orange is a combination of yellow and red and is considered an energetic color.

- Orange calls to mind feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, and warmth.

- Orange is often used to draw attention, such as in traffic signs and advertising.

The Color Psychology of Pink

- Pink is essentially a light red and is usually associated with love and romance.

- Pink is thought to have a calming effect. One shade known as “drunk-tank pink“ is sometimes used in prisons to calm inmates. Sports teams sometimes paint the opposing teams locker room pink to keep the players passive and less energetic.

- While pink’s calming effect has been demonstrated, researchers of color psychology have found that this effect only occurs during the initial exposure to the color. When used in prisons, inmates often become even more agitated once they become accustomed to the color.

1. Match the terms with the definitions

Color	the distance from one wave of energy to another as it is traveling from one point to another point
Eyestrain	The quality of an object or substance with respect to light reflected by the object, usually determined visually by measurement of hue, saturation, and brightness of the reflected light
Wavelength	the group of colors that a ray of light can be separated into including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet: the colors that can be seen in a rainbow
Chromotherapy	a strong feeling that makes you want to hurt someone or be unpleasant because of something unfair or unkind that has happened
Spectrum	A sensation of discomfort produced in the eyes by their excessive or improper use
Anger	treatment of disease by colored lights
Sadness	A particular state of mind or emotion
mood	emotional pain associated with, or characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, helplessness, disappointment and sorrow

2. Say if these statements are true or false

	true	false
English scientist Stephen William Hawking discovered that when pure white light passes through a prism, it separates into all of the visible colors.
Certain colors can raise blood pressure, increase metabolism or cause eyestrain.
Red light mixed with yellow light creates blue
Colors have different meanings in different cultures.
Most psychologists view color therapy as an efficient method of treatment
Modern doctors practice chromotherapy
Warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility.