Color psychology: meaning of colors and their applications

  • Jun 06, 2023
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Color psychology: meaning of colors and their applications

The psychology of color studies the way in which colors impact human behavior, therefore, establishes that each tonality has a meaning and a psychological effect that varies depending on the different cultures. In fact, it is a whole language of communication that is applied in various aspects of life such as marketing, education, neuroscience, among many others. Since the beginning of the 20th century Carl Jung, a renowned Swiss psychologist, has studied the effects of colors on the human mind. Therefore, it is a fact that some colors calm you down and others can exalt your senses.

To delve a little more into the subject, in the following Psychology-Online article we will explore in detail color psychology: the meaning of colors and their applications.

You may also like: The psychology of color in marketing and advertising

Index

  1. What is the psychology of color
  2. Principles of color psychology
  3. How colors influence emotions
  4. color psychology applications

What is color psychology.

The psychology of color 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 each color has cultural associationsand symbolic specific as well as universal psychological effects. For example, red is often associated with energy, passion, and excitement, while blue can evoke feelings of calm, serenity, and confidence.

However, these associations can vary depending on individual culture and experiences. As an example, in China brides usually dress in red, while for funerals in that culture people usually wear white, something unusual 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 kind of cognitive therapy for his patients to 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 what is related to advertising and marketing.

Color psychology: meaning of colors and their applications - What is color psychology

Principles of color psychology.

In addition to cultural associations, studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of colors on emotions and behavior. Some findings suggest that these are some of the key tenets of color psychology:

  • 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 scheme: Contrast between colors can affect visual perception and readability. For this reason, some educational strategies include mental 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. In addition, 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.

Color has a strong influence on human emotions because it is related to some biological functions and cognitive perception. Although, as we have already mentioned, this varies by culture. However, it is a fact that in nature the color red represents a danger to some species, just as it occurs with people. This is due to some evolutionary elements that we still maintain as a species.

Now, the psychology of color is very present in our lives, since we tend to talk about tones warm when we want the place to be pleasant and cozy or cold tones when they hardly transmit emotions. With that said, let's look at 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. In addition, 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 associated with 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 from black color.
  • Blue: It is one of the most used colors in large corporations because it is associated with calm and wisdom. In addition, 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 sanitation. 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 color wave. Therefore, it is associated with passion, energy and love. Also, it has to do with danger and vitality, since it is the tonality that the 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. However, since it is a very striking tone, it is usually used on small surfaces, since it can slightly alter the senses and exalt the emotions.
  • Purple: It is a color that represents luxury, truth and spiritualism, but, on the other hand, it is associated with decadence and the suppression of emotions.
  • Green: green represents nature, care and hope, which is why it is also used a lot in therapies and in teaching centers.
  • Orange: It is a combination between yellow and red, therefore, it is a dynamic hue that calls for 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 and 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 the Meaning of the color brown in psychology.
Color psychology: meaning of colors and their applications - How colors influence emotions

Applications of color psychology.

Color psychology is applied in various fields, such as:

  • In the 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 audience or target audience.
  • In education: In general, 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 The psychology of color in marketing and advertising. However, it is important to keep in mind that color psychology is a complex field and responses to colors can vary from person to person.

Color psychology: meaning of colors and their applications - Applications of color psychology

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.

If you want to read more articles similar to Color psychology: meaning of colors and their applications, we recommend that you enter our category of cognitive psychology.

Bibliography

  • Canellas, A. m. (1979). Color psychology. Maina, 35-37.
  • Heller, E. (2004). Color psychology. Available in https://biblioteca.uazuay.edu.ec/buscar/item/57237
  • Murga Machaca, D. R. (2019). Psychology of color in marketing.
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