White color in psychology: what does it mean and symbolize?
Each of us perceives white in his own way. At first glance, it may seem that it evokes only positive emotions in everyone. Is it really? This question cannot be answered unequivocally simply because it is neutral and the opposite of black. And this raises many questions that are not easy to answer.
Characteristic
Most people associate white with snow and winter time. It has its own definite meaning in psychology, since it is perceived by our consciousness as something cold and does not express anything.
A painting with absolutely white paints will look ridiculous and ridiculous. It will be just a blank canvas on which anyone can draw an image. And thereby convey certain information to everyone. Otherwise, the faceless color scheme will remain faceless, because the white color is initially the basis for a person to be able to express his feelings and thoughts on it.
For an individual personality, it carries both positive and negative emotions. And that's why. On the one hand, the color of purity can calm our psyche. On the other hand, from its oversaturation, one can easily fall into a depressive state. It is not for nothing that polar explorers often feel depressed due to their long stay in the snow-covered area.
Where there is permafrost all around, the whiteness begins to dazzle painfully, and as a result, our brain experiences stress from a lack of information. From this moment, a failure in consciousness starts, and despondency sets in. And only a strong personality can fight this.
And then the benefits of civilization can come to the aid of people: communications, the Internet and television.Thanks to them, the inhabitants of the North, where the snow-white cover lies all year round, have the opportunity to receive information of various directions. For example, pictures depicting nature and green spaces, as well as birds and flowers, which differ in a variety of colors and colors.
With the help of sight, a person must accept positive emotions, and then his consciousness will be in equilibrium with the environment.
And white, like black, is the color of emptiness. When that very emptiness comes, then the decline of spirit begins.
Usually, snow-white colors have similar characteristics to the clouds in the heavens. Many people sometimes wanted to jump at least once in this ephemeral cotton wool, but, unfortunately, this is impossible as long as every mortal has a physical shell. And that is why humanity began to compare light shades with life in the sky.
It is not for nothing that the white color is considered pure and impeccable. Usually Angels and other celestials are depicted in this color scheme. If we imagine a ghost, then it will always look like a small snow-white cloud.
It is no coincidence that white is used in large quantities in wedding ceremonies. So the bride and groom want to show the purity of their thoughts. Women and girls wear white clothes in order to attract attention. Representatives of the fairer sex want to show others that they belong to this type of woman, which is distinguished by obvious purity in behavior.
From the foregoing, we can conclude that the characteristic of white color shows a twofold value for the hue. On the one hand, it represents purity and the beginning of something, on the other hand, emptiness.
What does it symbolize?
For some peoples, white symbolizes death. When grief occurs in a family, women put not black, but white headscarves on their heads. The men wear white clothes. White is the color of the shroud. Therefore, just like the color of the night, it is associated with death. It is not just that for a large number of people, snowy shades cause despondency, as they are associated with burial and the grave.
Let's figure out why exactly white color evokes such unusual emotions. In the culture of individual nations, it is believed that if the deceased is dressed in black and surrounded by the same color, then in the next world he will not be able to see anything. And light colors at the funeral will show the deceased the way to the other world.
But this does not always happen and not for everyone. Among other things, a completely white color for artists means complete emptiness or lack of color. But unlike black, other colors appear well on it, which are not distorted. So, if you apply red on black, you get a brown color scheme, and on a light shade, red always remains red. The same will happen with other colors.
White skillfully combines a spectrum of colors and denotes divinity and innocence. Where artists want to portray the purity of something, they use white paints.
Therefore, unalloyed shades symbolize the very purity and the ability to start from scratch. It is not for nothing that the symbolism of white since the time of the universe has meant union and truce. When the opponent surrenders, he flies a white flag. And this means that he is ready for negotiations, which means, for a restart of relations. In the future, a truce will surely come, and new times will come for both sides.
Stars in a dark sky almost always have a lighter shade of silver. They attract everyone's eyes with their freshness, so people associate the light color scheme with their dreams and hopes. That is, from touching with white paints, they can receive help from above.
In this regard, animals that have a whitish tint are considered sacred in many countries. In India, the cow is considered an unusual animal.And she is depicted in white in the same way as the white Asian elephant, and the Greek (this is inherent in the people of Germany) white horses, and the Chinese white tiger, and the Egyptian white bull.
Certain intentions of people means a white dove. He is a symbol of peace and goodwill. It is not for nothing that at weddings, young people release snow-white doves into the sky.
A good and beautiful tradition symbolizes the beginning of something new and wonderful in their lives.
But there is a contradiction to this custom when it comes to omens. Others consider the white dove a harbinger of death. In films with a tragic ending, the director often inserts the following episode: the sun is shining through an open window, and a white dove sits on the windowsill and begins to coo.
A wonderful and wonderful picture! But people watching this spectacle begin to fuss and express their unimaginable anxiety. They literally panic. And all this is due to the fact that the white dove on the window symbolizes someone's early death. This episode is especially appropriate when there is a sick person in the room where the dove has flown. So a light color scheme can symbolize both negative manifestations of our life with you, and positive ones. Everything in this world depends on individual perception.
Features of perception
They are different. Someone associates white color with a vacuum and a lack of meaning. Others like to surround themselves with snow-white shades in order to feel individual cleanliness and sterility.
Dirt is always visible on white. Therefore, this color scheme is completely impractical in everyday life. It is for this reason that many do not take seriously its snow-white base. A person initially imagines how much he will have to work in order to "maintain" a white thing in a quality manner: clothes, shoes, transport, and the interior of the house.
Therefore, the whitish coloring repels many at the very initial stage. It has long been known that any color evokes various associations. Many people do not like the snow-white shade due to the fact that it denotes the color of mourning.
Each individual has his own psychological foundations, thanks to which he can perceive or not perceive what surrounds him. Some people hate snowy weather. Especially when the white cover lingers for many months. In places where this often occurs, people in most cases become depressed.
This suggests that monochromatic and boring paints cause fatigue in all of us. The eye "has nothing to catch on" and send other, more comfortable information into the consciousness. From this, our psyche gradually begins to rebel, and then "fall asleep." And we become indifferent to the events taking place.
To prevent this from happening, it is necessary in everyday life to surround yourself with a variety of colors. It is not without reason that even in modern hospitals they try to use decoration that is distinguished by many paintings and paints.
And this affects the attendance of the medical institution and the quality recovery of sick people. No one wants to sit in line among absolutely white walls and the same curtains on the windows. Anyone will try to quickly leave such a room, regardless of their condition.
On the other hand, the color of "light" makes people feel happy. Thanks to this, euphoria sets in. Anyone who is out of the light for a long time, among the walls that have a dark shade, tries to break out in order to swallow freedom.
It is the white color that many people intertwine with the color of freedom, and they perceive it very positively.
It turns out that because of the planting of white, a person can go blind in the full sense of the word. And at the same time, due to his constant absence, he can also go blind. This suggests that everyone needs a middle ground. And there must always be a certain gap between white and black, which is filled with other shades, brighter and more saturated.Then equilibrium sets in, and as a result, the psychological state of the individual will be in complete rest for a long time.
What kind of people do they like?
It all depends on the character of the person. For some, white is their favorite color. And that's why. Some individuals consider themselves to be in a certain circle. They are airy and demanding of the environment - this is the so-called bohemia.
Lovers of a wonderful life put on white clothes and live under the warm sun rays somewhere in the villa, and their environment: furniture, bedding, floors, ceilings, curtains have the appropriate shade.
This happens because such a person does not care about the need to keep his everyday life completely clean due to the fact that there is no dirt in the area, and instead of it, there is white sand on the beach.
Usually such minions of fate have a servant, and she takes care of the integrity of their environment. Therefore, such people are not interested in how much time they will spend on cleaning the premises and their dresses.
In addition, these persons make sure that those around them think of them as completely unearthly creatures, which are not inherent in the frailty of everyday life. And this, I must say, is not given to everyone.
Not every person will be able to lead such a parasitic lifestyle for a long time. The more active persons will begin to erect vigorous activity around themselves and will surely get dirty. And having received negative experience, they will correct their situation and let more “mundane” shades into their lives, which will allow them to hide some stains both on their reputation and on their clothes.
Others, who cannot use the “white environment” on a daily basis, but really want to do it, try to come a little closer to this way of life. Leaving on vacation in hot habitats, they use a wardrobe, where all things have snow-white shades. So, they are at least in clothes, but they try to express their perception and love for white.
So, the contemplation of white can be divided into the following:
- it is light and not darkness;
- this is a serene state (it is not for nothing that the minutes of awakening are always depicted in white colors);
- this is peace (almost everyone prefers to use snow-white underwear);
- it is cleanliness (also associated with being in a person's bed);
- at the same time it is emptiness (when there is nothing in the neighborhood that pleases our perception);
- detachment from the whole world;
- as well as chastity and virginity;
- it is a symbol of loneliness.
How to relate to this color is up to you. But do not think too much and start philosophizing.
Black and white stand in a separate row in the general color scheme, as they are the progenitors of various shades.