Effects of Colors.

"Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions," the artist Pablo Picasso once remarked. 

The topic of color psychology is becoming a hot topic in field of marketing, arts, designing, etc. Colors are powerful tools which are used for influencing moods and physiological reactions. Certain colors have been associated with increase and decreasing in blood pressure, metabolism and effect on eyestrain.

To know more about this let’s begin by understanding more about color psychology.

COLOUR PSYCHOLOGY

Sir Isaac Newton found out that each color is made up of a single wavelength and it cannot be separated any further into other colors. On the other hand, he also found out that when pure white light passes through a prism, it separates into 7 visible colors. This is known as Spectrum.

 Much of the evidence in this emerging area is anecdotal at best, but researchers and experts have made a few important discoveries and observations about the psychology of color and the effect it has on moods, feelings, and behaviors.

Let’s see few colors, their impact on mental and physical health and their significance:

BLACK

Black isn’t the primary, secondary or tertiary color, rather it is the absorption of all the colors. It absorbs all lights in spectrum.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT:

Individual reactions to color black can vary widely.

It generally signifies FORMALITY, DRAMATIC, SOPHISTICATION and SECURITY.

POSITIVE EFFECTS:

The positive associations with this color includes attractiveness, elegance and sophistication.

This is the reason why people chose to dress in black at formal events and also high-end brands have black in their logos.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS:

The black color is generally seen as a negative color in many societies. It’s been tied to death and evil.  It evokes strong feelings of anger, aggression, fear, and sadness.

WHITE

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT:

White signifies CLEAN, SIMPLICITY, INNOCENCE and HONESTY.

 POSITIVE EFFECTS:

The color white conveys cleanliness, freshness and simplicity. It’s the mark of purity.

In the words of designers, it creates a sense of space and add highlights.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS:

In many Eastern cultures, white is symbolically linked to death and sadness. It's often a color used in funerals and other mourning rituals.

It might create an impact of stark, cold and isolation.

RED

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT:

It signifies EXCITEMENT, STRENGTH, LOVE and ENERGY.

POSITIVE EFFECTS:

Studies show that being exposed to or wearing red can cause some of the following physical effects:

• Elevated blood pressure
• Enhanced metabolism
• Increased heart rate
• Increased respiration rate

Red is also linked to passion, love, and desire. These associations could explain why people wearing red are consistently rated as more attractive by the opposite sex.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS:

Across cultures, people intuitively associate red with the concept of anger. This relationship makes sense given that many people get red in the face from increased blood flow when they're angry.

BLUE

 PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS:

It signifies TRUST, PEACE, LOYALITY and COMPETENCE.

POSITIVE EFFECTS:

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

Blue is often seen as a sign of stability and reliability. Businesses that want to project an image of security often utilize blue in their advertising and marketing efforts.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS:

Blue can also create feelings of sadness or aloofness. Consider how a painting that heavily features blue, such as those produced by Picasso during his "blue period," can seem so lonely, sad, or forlorn.

Blue is one of the least appetizing colors. Some weight loss plans even recommend eating your food off 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.

GREEN

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS:

It signifies NATURE, HEALING, FRESHNESS and QUALITY.

POSITIVE EFFECTS:

Shades of green found in nature may help put us at ease in a new place. For this reason, designers often feature the color green in public spaces like restaurants and hotels.

Green's calming effects may be due to its associations with nature, which people often feel is relaxing and refreshing.

It is also said to be motivating. One study found that people with a "high need for achievement" more consistently chose the color green over the color red, which was more often chosen by those with a "low need for achievement”.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS:

Green is said to indicate envy or jealousy.

YELLOW

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS:

It signifies CREATIVITY, HAPPINESS, WARMTH and CHEER.

POSITIVE EFFECTS:

Yellow, being a bright color is an attention-grabbing color, hence used in traffic symbols and traffic lights.

It is known to increase metabolism.

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

NEGATIVE EFFECTS:

Since it is a very light color, it is difficult to read yellow fonts.

Yellow can also develop a feeling of frustration and anger.

 

Other than this, there’s a lot more about colours and its impacts. It’s a vast topic with lots of scientific details, most of them not yet proven. If you are interested in knowing anything particular about this topic, do let me know in the comment section.