Do you become nervous when you're in a yellow room? Do you find the color blue to be soothing and relaxing? Color has long been thought to have a powerful impact on moods, sentiments, and emotions by artists and interior designers. "Colors, like features, follow the variations in emotions," Pablo Picasso famously said.
Color can be used to convey action, alter emotion, and even impact physiological responses. Higher blood pressure, increased metabolism, and eyestrain have all been linked to certain hues. So, how does color function? What role does color have in mood and behavior?
Color psychology
Sir Isaac Newton, an English scientist, discovered in 1666 that pure white light splits into all of the visible hues as it passes through a prism. Newton also discovered that each color is made up of a single wavelength that cannot be divided into other colors.
Experiments showed that light could be blended to create other colors. When red and yellow light are combined, the result is orange. When certain colors, such as green and magenta, are blended, they cancel each other out, resulting in white light.
If you've ever painted, you've probably seen how different colors may be blended to make new ones.
According to scholars Andrew Elliot and Markus Maier, "given the abundance of color, one would anticipate color psychology to be a well-developed area." "Surprisingly, little theoretical or empirical study on color's effects on psychological functioning has been done to date, and the work that has been done has been driven mostly by practical considerations, rather than scientific rigor."
Despite the paucity of study in this field, color psychology has become a popular issue in marketing, art, and design, among other fields. Although much of the data in this developing field is anecdotal at best, academics and specialists have produced a few key discoveries and observations on color psychology and its impact on moods, feelings, and actions.
Color's Psychological Effects
Why does color have such a strong influence on our lives? What kind of impact will it have on our bodies and minds? While color perceptions are sometimes subjective, some color effects have universal significance.
Warm colors are those in the red part of the color spectrum, such as red, orange, and yellow. Warm colors inspire a wide range of emotions, from sensations of comfort and warmth to sentiments of rage and hatred.
Cool colors are those that are on the blue end of the spectrum, such as blue, purple, and green. These hues are typically described as soothing, yet they can also evoke feelings of despair or apathy.
The Use of Color Psychology in Therapy
Chromotherapy, or the use of colors to heal, was practiced by several ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and the Chinese. Light treatment or colorology are alternate terms for chromotherapy.
Colorology is still utilized as a complementary or alternative therapy today.
This treatment entails:
Red is utilized to enhance circulation and excite the body and mind.
Yellow is supposed to detoxify the body and stimulate the nerves.
Orange is utilized to help the lungs mend and give you more energy.
Blue is thought to be a soothing and pain-relieving color.
indigo hues are supposed to help with skin issues.
Color Psychology in the Modern Era
Most psychologists are skeptical of color therapy, pointing out that the reported benefits of color are frequently overstated. Colors have distinct connotations in many civilizations.
In many circumstances, research has shown that color's mood-altering effects are only transient. A blue environment may induce emotions of serenity at first, but this impact fades after a short time.
Existing study, on the other hand, has discovered that color has a surprising impact on people:
In one study, warm-colored placebo tablets were found to be more effective than cool-colored placebo pills. According to anecdotal evidence, blue-colored streetlights help lower crime.
According to researchers, red leads people to react with increased speed and force, which could be advantageous during sporting activity.
Penalties are more likely to be given to black uniforms. According to a study that looked at historical data on sports teams and how they were outfitted, pupils were more inclined to identify negative attributes with a player wearing a black outfit.
Color Has an Impact on Performance
Certain colors have also been demonstrated to have an effect on performance in studies. Although no one enjoys seeing a graded test splashed in red ink, a study indicated that viewing the color red before taking an exam actually decreased test performance.
Many prior studies on the influence of the color red have been generally inconclusive, despite the fact that the color red is frequently described as frightening, arousing, or thrilling. However, the study discovered that exposing pupils to the color red before an exam had a negative impact on test performance.
