How color impacts moods, feelings, and behaviors
Kateryna Kovarzh
Do you feel energized when you see red?
Does the colorbluemake you feel calm and relaxed?
Artists andinterior designershave long believed that color can dramatically affect moods, feelings, and emotions.
Kateryna Kovarzh
Certain colors have been associated with physiological changes, including increased blood pressure, increased metabolism, and eyestrain.
Think about your clothes and how different colored clothing makes you feel when you wear them.
Many times, it’s the small things that can have the largest impact."
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What Is Color Psychology?
Color psychology is the study of how different colors affect humanmoodand behavior.
In ancient cultures, colors were often used to treat different conditions and influence emotions.
They also played a role in different spiritual practices.
Why is color such a powerful force in our lives?
What effects can it have on our bodies and minds?
While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, some color effects have universal meanings.
These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility.
These colors are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference.
These shared meanings may play an essential role in aiding communication.
Our feelings about color are often deeply personal and rooted in our own experience or culture.
Chromotherapy is sometimes referred to as light therapy or colorology.
Colorology is still used today as a holistic or alternative treatment.
Colors also have different meanings in different cultures.
However, the mood-altering effects of color may only be temporary.
How do color associations develop?
How powerful is the influence of these associations on real-world behavior?
Can color be used to increase worker productivity or workplace safety?
What colors have an impact onconsumer behavior?
Do certain personality types prefer specific colors?
“In addition, such claims often refer to outdated research without referring to current research findings.”
Recap
More research is needed to understand the mental and physical effects of color.
Color Can Influence Performance
Studies have also shown that certain colors can have an impact on performance.
But could the color of the products you purchase ever say something about your personality?
When buying items, your color preferences might say something about the image you are trying to project.
Other factors, such as age and gender, can also influence our color choices.
Of course, our color selections are often influenced by price, selection, and other practical concerns.
Not only that, but color preferences can also change over time.
Keep in Mind
So what’s the bottom line?
More scientific research is needed to gain a better understanding of color psychology.
Yang J, Shen X.The app of color psychology in community health environment design.J Environ Public Health.
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OConnor Z.Colour psychology and colour therapy: Caveat emptor.Color Res Appl.
2013;20(5):916-22. doi:10.3758/s13423-013-0411-6
