Psychology of colors: meaning and influence on the character and psyche of a person

A person lives in color: wildlife and artificial surroundings - everything has its own shades. Consciously or not, people have a preference for certain colors. This choice can be temporary or permanent, it can be determined by personal experience or the experience of generations. There is an inverse relationship between the inner state of a person and his preferred color. This article will tell you about this fact, proven by science and the experience of mankind.

Before talking about the mutual influence of character and color, it is worth determining their meaning. Psychology studies the meaning and semantics of colors. Below is a table with a list of the main shades and their meaning.

In this table, the generally accepted meanings and symbols of the primary colors and shades were considered. This knowledge will help you get closer to understanding the psychology of color. To further delve into the topic, you need to know what qualities a person who prefers certain colors has.

To judge a person's character, one must take into account his position in life, the situation in which he is now living, fashion. That is, you need to know something else about him, besides his addiction to any color. After all, his choice may well be dictated by the requirements of fashion, to emphasize the symbolic meaning of clothing or compliance with a certain style. Noticing things with a predominance of what color a person surrounds himself in an informal setting in different situations, one can draw a conclusion about certain qualities of his character.

It is worth paying attention not only to the color of clothes, but also to decorations, interiors, dishes, food. If the choice is not dictated by a momentary mood, then a person constantly strives to be in an environment of a certain color scheme. What color you like the most is easy to unobtrusively find out in a conversation. Usually people are not alert when talking about their preferences.

So, a description of the qualities of people adhering to a certain color palette.

• White... It symbolizes and carries the image of light. Therefore, a person who prefers this color strives for purification, for light. For him, clarity and transparency in everything is important. There may be a striving for perfection and perfection (here it is worth remembering the white coats of doctors - impeccable sterility). Another quality that white emphasizes is innocence. As a sign of her, as well as as a sign of the beginning of a new life (“start life from scratch”), a white bridal veil was worn. In certain quantities and combinations, it can emphasize coldness and soullessness.
• Black... Often the choice of black shades is dictated by social conventions, then it means severity, elegance.When this choice is due to psychological reasons, it can be caused by melancholy, inner emptiness, turning into a rejection of your state, your life. Addiction to black speaks of protest, aggression. The attitude of such a person is categorical, not intending to solve the problem. Examples of black lovers: nihilists, rockers, emo - these people strive to be different, to renounce social foundations.
• Red... A person who prefers red, decisive, impetuous, self-confident. Being the color of fire, red warms, but can also cause overexcitement. Therefore, his fans are aggressive in their assertiveness. They often act rashly, but by their outlook they are desperate optimists. They are born leaders. Women use this color to emphasize their sexuality and attractiveness. The burgundy shade of red makes a self-confident person calmly active and restrainedly proud, depriving him of excessive impulsiveness and fussiness. But its extreme manifestation can be expressed in arrogance and arrogance. The combination of red and yellow - orange, combines their qualities. It is a color that gives joy. People who love him are energetic and cheerful. Creative and imaginative, they are always teeming with new ideas. They are friendly, balanced and non-conflicting. They are aimed at success and know how to achieve their goal. Encouragement and enthusiasm are also their hallmarks.
• Yellow... People of this color are cheerful and friendly. Their need to give warmth is akin to the sun itself. Optimists notice only positive things in everything. These are creative people who constantly have new ideas. It is natural for them to express their feelings openly. Host and supportive, good friends.
• Blue... A person who adores blue is usually calm and thoughtful, like a calm sea, but sometimes, when they prefer darker and deeper shades, they can be cold and dispassionate. These are reliable and loyal people, you can safely entrust them with your secrets. Their character is clearly marked by self-control and self-discipline. Those who love blue are impressionable, loyal, thoughtful and reflective people. They prefer peace. They are prone to despondency. Turquoise is liked by restrained, self-confident persons. They are independent, but love the attention of others and communication. They have the ability to think outside the box, thanks to which they always come up with something new, unfortunately, without putting it into practice.
• Purple... People who have purple as their favorite color often feel a little different. They prefer to live by their own rules. They are interested in mysticism, romance. Thinly feeling and striving for spiritual growth. Possessors of high intelligence. The borderline location of violet between red and blue gives rise to constant internal contradictions and doubts in them. The qualities that characterize them are modesty, isolation, susceptibility to other people's influence. The purple hue reflects superiority, narcissism, the desire for power and power. These people love to be in the spotlight. Their impulsiveness and truthfulness helps to quickly resolve problems. Lilac is a more subtle shade of purple. These people are characterized by sensitivity, love for art. In communication, they occupy an intermediate position, avoid direct conversation. Emotionally, they have to balance between optimism and depression. They love to indulge in nostalgia. In terms of support in difficult times, you can always count on disinterested help from them.
• In the green palette the impetuosity and joy of yellow are balanced by the coolness of blue. Green meaning: calm, stop, pause, static. People who prefer green are level-headed, stable and reliable. They are generous, sociable, friendly.They often compromise, not being able to defend their point of view, but are not prone to despondency.

A person is constantly exposed to color - in things and clothes, in nature and food, at work and at home, while awake and even in sleep. Due to the property of the human psyche to perceive objects both consciously and unconsciously, color is able to influence our well-being and mood, bypassing consciousness... Using this knowledge about the influence of different shades on the psyche, you can avoid their negative influence or, conversely, use their beneficial properties.

The effect of this color, which absorbs the entire spectrum, promotes both mental and physical cleansing. Gives a feeling of cleanliness, refreshes. May cause cold sensations. White color symbolizes kindness, purity, sincerity, justice. To cultivate these qualities in yourself and attract others around them, you should use it in the interior, in clothes. As perfection, he is able to instruct. With excess, anxiety, irritation, anxiety are possible.

It has a powerful effect on the human psyche. Suppresses, feels like heaviness ("black cloud") threat ("black raven"), plunges into depression. Causes malice, dark aggression... As a means of social adaptation, it performs the function of a constraint and fit (creating an official business atmosphere). Emphasizes solidity and solidity. May impart a sense of security.

Has the ability to devastate, which is sometimes used for self-attunement in order to penetrate the subconscious. Often, choosing black is a manifestation of protest, renunciation. Then being in his aura can help you understand and find yourself. After that, the transition to other colors must be done gradually.

The positive effect of red is invigorating and invigorating. It is useful for melancholy and loss of strength, for overcoming weakness and despondency. Increases self-confidence, improves mood. It is appropriate to use it in situations where you need to defend your opinion. To achieve the listed effects, it is better to apply it in the morning, as in the evening it can cause overexcitement and poor sleep. The abundance of red can cause aggression and irritability. In moderate quantities, it warms, improves metabolism, increases blood pressure.

The main influence of this color is a positive attitude. The inclusion of orange motifs in everyday life stimulates activity, the desire to create something new, allows you to feel the taste of life. Orange helps to concentrate on the task at hand, to successfully conduct a dialogue, adds courage and determination.

Improves digestion. Stimulates respiratory activity, normalizes hormones. The use of orange is highly appropriate for career success. But in the family sphere, its influence can be positive, as it increases attractiveness, and its warm, bright energy can become a family charm when added to the interior, clothes and favorite things.

This color gives joy and charges with optimism. Promotes acceptance of their surroundings. Stimulates mental activity, promotes the formation of talents. Shades that are closer to lemon yellow improve mood and cheer up. Shades of yellow and brown can remind of autumn, bring sadness.It has a positive effect on the work of the joints and the spine, and also improves the condition of the skin.

Improves concentration, enhances self-control. Clarifies and refreshes thought. Allows you to gain self-confidence, gives peace and serenity. It is useful to use it when there is a need for discipline, prudence and sober analysis. Dark, somber shades of blue evoke anxiety and discouragement. Therefore, given the personality types, it is better to recommend them to people who are restless and excitable, and it is undesirable to use it in clothes and in the interior for those prone to melancholy.

Combines blue and white. Helps to relax, calm down. It is good to use it when you need to concentrate, put your thoughts in order. Promotes effective communication, expression of thoughts, stabilizes the emotional state. Often, educational and medical offices are decorated with this color. Increases immunity, has a beneficial effect on the state of ENT organs. Excess can make you drowsy.

Relaxes well physically and mentally. Reduces manifestations of aggressiveness, soothes the surge of emotions. These properties are especially applicable in color therapy and for auto-training.

Those who lack a positive perception of the world, calm and harmonious interaction with their surroundings, and confident movement towards the goal should surround themselves with the color of grass and trees. Psychological qualities inherent in color - sociability, contact, confidence. Warm hues are soothing, not relaxing, but more productive. An excess of dark tones can act depressingly, this is confirmed by the phrase "green melancholy".

Exposure to green in the morning can cause drowsiness. But it relieves well of negative emotions and promotes sound healthy sleep. Therefore, before going to bed, its use is appropriate, for example, green lighting in the bedroom or green bedding.

Excites imagination, inspires creativity, dreams. Often used for meditation. Improves memory, attention, stimulates intellectual activity. Suitable for reflection, which makes problem solving easier. Too much of this color in space leads to excessive self-control, overexertion, depression.

It normalizes blood pressure, reduces heart rate, stabilizes the psycho-emotional state, improves falling asleep, and the body's regenerative abilities. The unusual and attractive purple color is often used in packaging design. She indicates sophistication, mystery, thereby warming up the interest of the buyer.

So, color affects mood, well-being, perception of the world. Regulates thought processes, is able to affect physical condition, sleep, health.

Max Luscher is the founder of color diagnostics. Before him, many thinkers and philosophers studied the influence of colors and gave an interpretation of their meanings. But he first developed and successfully used a color test. It has a total of 8 colors: 4 primary (red, blue, green and yellow) and 4 additional (gray, brown, purple and black).

According to Luscher, normally the primary colors should occupy the first 4 places in the sample.... If preference is given to additional ones, and the main ones are chosen at the end, then we can safely say that a person suppresses some of his basic needs. This means that he lives in tension, looking for ways to compensate for his dissatisfaction. Self-deception and the illusion of satisfying basic needs lead to the fact that he does not live a full life.

Luscher, comparing speech describing the client's mood and color choice, argued that the latter cannot deceive. Indeed, the color test quite accurately determines the emotional state at a given moment.

From the point of view of one of the researchers of color perception Ch. A. Izmailov, most of our emotions can be located on the color spectrum. And then, according to his theory, most of a person's emotions will be placed in a color scheme from blue to blue-red and purple, and a smaller part - in a gamut of green and green-blue. The rest, a very small part, is in the area of ​​light green shades.

G. Flaring has developed a test for the study of personal characteristics: "Color mirror". The choice of colors determines the psychotype of the personality:

• green-blue - thinking;
• red-orange - sensual;
• olive green - intuitive;
• yellow-orange - extroverted;
• purple-black-pink - introverted.

The healing effect of flowers is borne out by history. For example, the ancient Chinese treated smallpox scars by soaking up the sun on red silk. In France, window frames were painted blue to repel flies. And from our own experience, you can see that being in a brightly colored room excites, in a room performed in dark tones - suppresses, and in light, gentle ones - soothes.

Tom Schreiter conventionally divided people into 4 color types, which can be recognized by human behavior and preferences.... In short, yellow is sociable and sympathetic; blue - cheerful, impulsive, outgoing; red is a born leader; green - introverted researcher and thinker. The purpose of this separation is to know and understand the interlocutor and communicate with him in his language.

It is clear that in each person as in a unique personality, all types can be combined and intertwined, that individuality cannot be measured by color alone. But having information about the meaning of colors, their influence on human physiology and psychology, the relationship between color preferences and character, you can better know yourself, your interlocutor and "tune" your life, health and relationships in accordance with your true desires and needs.