In 1810, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) published Theory of Colours, his commentary on the function, impact, and psychology of colors, revolutionising the world of Colour Psychology. Colour Psychology, defined as the study of how different colours may affect one’s emotions and behavior, has played a prominent role in many aspects of life since.
Light and darkness, brightness and obscurity, or if a more general expression is preferred, light and its absence, are necessary to the production of color… Color itself is a degree of darkness. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Theory of Colours
Goethe suggests that each colour impacts an individual based on three aspects: The innate psychology of that colour shared among societies, the cultural associations and significance of the colour, and the individual’s connection to the colour. Common ideas between cultures regarding these factors would then form universal meanings of colours, for example green meaning nature and growth.
As long as your eyes are open, they are seeing colour; the brain processes colour first before any text, shape, or image. Therefore, Colour Psychology holds symbolic weight behind making a first impression. The diverse meanings and personal interpretations of colour make it crucial in quick perceptions of a person, place, or being.
Colour Psychology
Blue is associated with truth and wisdom. Scientifically studied to lower blood pressure and heart rate, it also pairs with calmness and stability. Thus, it may help one center oneself or provide a balancing presence for any social drama. Frequently voted as the universal favorite, it may help appeal to the senses of the general public.
Red is commonly associated with aggression and passion. In contrast with blue, red has been scientifically proven to heighten blood pressure and heart rate and strengthen one’s metabolism. This is why stop signs and fire engines are red. Furthermore, red is seen globally as the colour of love. Studies suggest that people perceive females as more sexually attractive when they wear red makeup. Consequently, this colour is not always fit for the office, but is often seen as a striking colour for a first date.
Yellow is associated with joy and enthusiasm, and is often described as the happiest colour. It is also attention-grabbing, making it perfect for road and danger signs. Because of its relation with the sun, it is a joyful, casual colour to wear in the summertime; however, unlike red, yellow is over-energizing, making the wearer look weak.
Green relates to freshness, safety, and harmony. Scientifically speaking, green is easy on the eyes and strains the eyes the least. Combined with the fact that green usually reminds others of nature, it is a colour that, when worn, may give off restorative and grounded energy.
Brown usually symbolizes stability and strength due to being associated with a tree trunk. It is generally hard to stand out with brown because it doesn’t catch one’s eye as quickly, but it is a safe and sturdy colour.
Orange evokes a sense of enthusiasm and vibrancy. The two distinguished shades of orange include the orange on the citrus fruit and safety vests, and the orange associated with leaves and pumpkins in fall. Because of these two contradictions, orange is generally not as eye-catching or favoured, but can be loud and soft.
Purple tends to bring up thoughts relating to royalty and luxury, stemming from ancient history. Purple is often the colour males choose to wear the least, as it has stronger gendered connotations than most colours. On the other hand, purple represents magic. The unnaturalness of the colour may seem mysterious and adds a subtle touch to an otherwise plain colour scheme.
Colour Psychology and Mental Health
The term that links colour psychology and mental health is Chromotherapy. Also known as colour therapy, it can be defined as a form of therapy that uses colour and light to treat certain mental health conditions. This idea was inspired by ancient Egypt, where people combined sun-filled rooms and coloured glasses to conduct therapy.
In the modern day, this can be conducted through light exposure through sight or directly reflecting different colours of light onto one’s body. However, this form of therapy is not sufficiently scientifically tested, so Western medicine often dismiss it.
The types of colour therapy include:
Red is used to energize or invigorate a person feeling tired or down. However, red may also trigger extreme reactions in people who are already tense.
Chromatherapists use blue to influence depression and pain. Darker shades of blue are also thought to have sedative properties and may be tried for people who experience insomnia or other sleeping disorders.
Green is the colour of nature, and according to chromatherapists, it can help relieve stress and relax a person.
Yellow can improve your mood and make you more happy and optimistic.
Orange, similarly to yellow, can elicit happy emotions from people. The bright, warm colour is also thought to stimulate one’s appetite and mental activity.
Ultimately, like many psychological phenomena, even though colour therapy and the effect of light frequencies on human emotion and behaviour has been tested multiple times, there is no way to prove its effectiveness or reliability under optimal testing conditions.
Works Cited
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Mantell, M. (2023). Color Psychology: How Color Affects Your Emotions And Why.
[online] Science of People. Available at: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/color-psychology/# [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].
Ohwovoriole, T. (2021). Color Therapy: Definition, Types, Techniques, Efficacy.
[online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/color-therapy-definition-types-techniques-and-efficacy-5194910#:~:text=Color%20therapy%2C%20also%20known%20as,back%20to%20the%20ancient%20Egyptians. [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].
Popova, M. (2012). Goethe on the Psychology of Color and Emotion. [online] The
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C.V., Born, M., Kelm, M. and Heiß, C. (2018). Blue light exposure decreases systolic blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and improves endothelial function in humans. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, [online] 25(17), pp.1875–1883. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487318800072.
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