Written by Christie C. (KIS‘23)
━━Nov 9th, 2020━━
Colors and a person’s mood are deeply connected together. In 1666, the English scientist Sir Isaac Newton discovered that all the visible colors are broken down as pure white light passes through a prism. Newton also found that a single wavelength is made up of each color and can not be further divided into other colors. Further experiments demonstrated that light could be combined to form other colors proving that warm colors can evoke emotions that are different from cool colors and bright colors which can produce different feelings than dark colors. It all depends on how color's psychological effects are used. Colors may make us feel happy or sad, and feel hungry or tired. These reactions are rooted in psychological effects, and are conditioned biologically. This article specifies how colors lead to certain feelings and what impact colors can have on our emotions.
Colors and emotions
The brain research of color is based on the mental and enthusiastic impacts colors have on located individuals in all aspects of life. There are a few exceptionally subjective pieces to color brain research, as well as a few more acknowledged and demonstrated components. Colors affect the mental or physical state of an individual. Studies have shown that certain individuals looking at the color red resulted in an elevated heart rate, which then contributed to the pumping of extra adrenaline into the bloodstream. The psychological effects of colors are most commonly related to two main color groups: warm and cool colors. Effects are categorized as warm and cool colors due to the feelings we get when looking at the hues.
How warm colors affect a person’s mood
Colors such as red, orange and yellow are color spectrums known as warm colors. The area units next to every alternative on the wheel and area unit all heat colors. Heat colors typically evoke feelings of happiness, optimism, and energy. However, yellow, red associate degreed orange also can have a gripping impact and signal danger or cause you to take action (think stop signs, hazard warnings, and barrier tape). Red also can increase a person’s appetency, causing one to feel attracted and tempted to the color red. Since warm colors advance towards the eye, these colors work well to help people feel relaxed and safe in wide spaces. Also, warm colors can be calming. They also elicit strong emotions and encourage movement, so for gyms and living rooms, these colors are suggested. And, as stated above, to give a sense of urgency, such as with red clearance signs, as well as optimism and cheerfulness, advertisers also use warm colors.
How cool colors affect a person’s mood
Cool colors such as blue, green, and light purple have nearly the opposite effects of warm colors. Cool colors receding from the eye may make a room appear wider and more spacious. In order to increase the area's perceived scale, these hues work well in smaller spaces. Cool colors, in addition, offer a sense of peace and relaxation. They are suitable for small spaces, such as bathrooms and bedrooms, that are meant to be quiet. By evoking a sense of well-being, tranquility, and wisdom, cool colors also affect people. Blue, purple and green are used in ads to express trustworthiness and reverence, causing people to rely on the ad and get convinced more easily.
Difference between happy and sad colors
Bright, warm colors such as yellow, orange, pink and red are happy colors. Pastel shades may also have an uplifting effect on your mood, such as peach, light pink or lilac. The brighter and lighter the paint, the more it will make you feel happy and hopeful. Another way colors can generate pleasant emotions is for a youthful, vibrant effect by mixing several primary and secondary colors together. On the other hand, Sad colors are colors that are dark and subdued. Grey is the quintessential sad hue, but depending on how they are used, dark and subdued cool colors like blue, green or neutral colors like brown or beige may have a similar effect on feelings and emotions. Research proved how after recruiting 105 adults to pick their favorite color, the results defined about 30 percent of people with anxiety picked a shade of gray, as did more than half of depressed volunteers. In comparison, healthy volunteers described their mood with a shade of gray only about 10 percent of the time. This research showed the direct significance of the effects of happy and sad colors on a person.
How neutral colors play a role in enhancing a person’s mood
Neutral colors in a palette frequently take on the aspects of the other colors and can be used to reinforce those influences. Black, white, brown, and beige provide the basic neutrals. White is sometimes connected to cleanliness, is pure and innocent. It may also be synonymous with death in some cultures. Black is sophisticated and stylish, but can be sad and reflective of death and mourning as well. Gray can be seen as sophisticated and strong, but if used the wrong way, it can also come across as dull. As it can be seen as warm or cold, traditional or modern, it's one of the most flexible neutrals. Brown is strong and durable, and, depending on the way in which it is used, may be associated with nature. Based on the colors used around it, beige can be warm or cold. It's usually conservative and can take on brown's warmth or white's coolness. It takes on the importance of the colors around it and sometimes blends into the background, adding no psychological effect on its own.
Conclusion
The key takeaways from all of this are that color is a critical part of creating meaningful user experiences and that a given application does not have a single correct color palette. This is why testing prototypes with actual users is such a critical component to developing a color palette that is tailored for the particular use cases that it will withstand. In one case, a green button could turn out better compared to a yellow button, but in another case, a red button could outperform all of them. People also choose items that evoke certain moods or feelings in colors, such as choosing a color of a car that appears sporty, modern, elegant, or trustworthy. In order to create a relaxing atmosphere, room colors can also be used to invoke particular moods, such as painting a bedroom a soft green. Experts have found that while color can have an impact on how we feel and behave, personal, cultural, and situational factors are subject to these impacts. However, to gain a deeper understanding of the psychology of color, further scientific study is needed.
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Credits:
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