Psychological Impact of Color

"Color is like food for the spirit -plus it's not addictive or fattening." -Isaac Mizarani

Science tells us that what we call color is a mode of vibration of light. It is quite apparent that color exerts a powerful influence on our minds and emotions. Color is not a lifeless, static phenomenon, but rather it is a strong power and influence in our lives. When you understand the effects that color has on your body, mind and spirit, you can use their qualities to help you in whatever task or challenge you may be facing.

The field of industrial psychology has a sub-field that studies only the psychology of color. By using color, you can send a positive or negative message, encourage sales and confidence, calm a crowd, or inspire energy and athletic success. Color psychology is in all facets of marketing and particularly in logo design, web site design, book covers, and product packaging.

BLACK is the color of power and authority and intelligence (Black robes of judges and professors) It is also the color associated with evil (the dark side, the cowboy with the black hat). Black is also associated with grieving and is a serious color that produces strong emotions. Too much black can feel overwhelming.

GRAY represents the practical, middle-of-the-road, solid things in life. Too much gray leads to feeling mostly nothing (gray skies of winter and seasonal affective disorders due to lack of light). Some shades of gray are associated with old age and depression or a lost sense of direction and inability to make a decision. But silver, an off-shoot of gray, is often associated with giving a helping hand and being wise and dependable.

WHITE is the color associated with purity (wedding dresses); cleanliness (doctors in white coats) and the safety of bright light. It is also used to project the absence of color, or neutrality. White associated with creativity (white boards, blank slates). It is a compression of all the colors in the color spectrum.

White light contains all colors. When you mix all colors of paint it forms a murky green-brown. When you mix all colors of direct light, it makes white. You've probably seen light shine through a prism to create the colors of a rainbow. A rainbow is actually formed by water molecules in the air acting as billions of tiny prisms. Here's how the colors of the rainbow can serve you to get specific results:

RED is the color of intense physical energy, strength and vitality. When you need a powerful burst of energy, wear, look at or imagine something red. When red gets rowdy, it is associated with mischief and sexuality (red light district and scarlet letters). Clear bright red shows generosity, ambition and affection while rosy pink shows unselfish love. Pastel pink is the most calming of all colors -- often our most dangerous criminals are housed in pink cells as studies show that color drains the energy and calms aggression. Think of pink as the color of romance, love, and gentle feelings, to be in the pink is to be soothed.

ORANGE is the color for sustained energy and enduring strength. Looking at (or imagining) bright clear orange is great for health and vitality. It's the color for warmth, fun times, happy and energetic days. It is also associated with ambition. There is nothing even remotely calm associated with this color. Orange is the new dawn in attitude.

YELLOW is the color of the mind - joyful, purifying mental energy. When you have a lot of studying or thinking to do or a test to take, enjoy the clarity and mental enthusiasm of anything yellow or use the sun to light your way. A person surrounded by yellow feels optimistic because the brain actually releases more serotonin (feel good chemical in the brain) when around this color.

GREEN is the color of healing and learning, of harmony and sympathy. Dark green is used to symbolize prosperity and success. The middle shades of green show adaptability and versatility. Light green is the color of peace, harmony, comfortable nurturing, support and well paced energy Remember green pastures where you shall now want for anything and green traffic lights to shout GO to your new endeavors.

BLUE is the color of spirit, of calm and of peace. As the sun is yellow and usually associated with sunny thoughts, the sky is high and blue and the sea is deep and blue. High and deep are good words to describe your spirit of inspiration and devotion to truth and noble ideas.

PURPLE is the color of royalty, the color we associate with kings and queens. Use purple when you want to feel magnificent, grand or stately or when you want to feel that kind of presence within you.

You can mix colors so that when you have "the blues" you can add red "energy" to make a more active and decisive purple. If you are feeling the red of passion or anger, add some calming blue to make a stately purple. If you are feeling too "hyper", add some yellow to the red to create a more stable energy of orange. If you are too yellow in thinking rather than acting (cowards are "yellow" in letting their thinking create fear), add some highly physical red to create a steady orange. Combining blue calmness and yellow mental energy gives you green for active healing and learning. Use the colors that you are drawn to and think about them surrounding and filling you with their energy to color your life with success.

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Dr. Darlene Treese has been in private practice in hypnosis and counseling since 1983. She has been internationally acknowledged for her positive action and solution-based therapies with individuals, groups and corporations. "A person for the people," Dr. Dar is always available to help you get a grip on life, health and happiness.

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