“Colour psychology is the study of hues as a determinant of human behaviour. Colour influences perceptions that are not obvious, such as the taste of food. The factors such as gender, age and culture can influence how an individual perceives colour” – Definition of Colour Psychology
So what does it all mean? Here is what I have learned so far, colour can influence you unconsciously, strike at an emotion, it can affect your mood and behavior. Surprisingly, I have come to learn that not a lot of research has been done in this area even though this concept is becoming increasingly used in marketing, art, design and more. Companies have been using colour to brand logos and communicate with their customers for many years and they made some interesting discoveries. For example, customers were more likely to spontaneously enter a shop who’s window display had warmer colours, even though when asked they preferred cooler colours. Also, the colour of placebo pills is said to play a factor in how effective they are. Stimulants worked better as “hot” coloured pills while depressants worked better as “cool” coloured pills.
“Colour, like features, follow the changes of the emotions” – Pablo Picasso
Colour can affect us on a deeply personal level, stemming from our experiences, age and cultures. One’s own perception of colour is very subjective, meaning one person could respond completely differently to the next. For some the red spectrums, known for their warmth and comfort, can lead to feelings of anger and hostility. The blue spectrums known for bringing calmness can also lead to sadness or indifference.
Yes we can be influenced by colour but still there are many questions to be answered. For example, how powerful these influences are, how they fully impact our behavior and so much more. I look forward to finding out…..