By: Natalia Garcia Luna

Believe it or not, color has a huge effect on us. This phenomenon, color psychology, is based on the mental and emotional effects colors have on sighted people in all facets of life. For example, sometimes you might feel happy when you see green mountains and clear blue skies, but sad when you see dark rainy skies and puddles everywhere. Most of us know to differentiate colors between warms and cools. These can spark different emotions in people. Restaurants tend to use warm colors because they are often associated with food. Some hospitals use cool colors, like blues and greens, to promote calmness or faster healing. People that work in marketing often spend many years and money researching the effects that color psychology can have on people. They use colors in an attempt to make their audience associate the colors with hunger, positivity, or calmness. Not all colors have the same effect, but they all play a big part in our lives. 

Base Colors

White

• Purity
• Cleanliness
• Neutrality
• Innocence
• New beginnings

Black 

• Power 
• Evil 
• Death 
• Strength 
• Discipline 

Brown (Mix of all colors) 

• Reliability 
• Friendship 
• Security 
• Natural 

Warm colors

Red

• Love
• Comfort 
• Energy
• Excitement 
• Intensity 
• Passion

Orange

• Happy 
• Enthusiasm 
• Sophistication 
• Change 
• Warmth 
• Cheerfulness
• Adventure

Yellow

• Laughter
• Optimism 
• Hunger
• Cheery
• Intensity

Pink

• Gentle
• Love
• Calming 
• Soft 
• Kind

Cool Colors

Green 

• Natural 
• Growth 
• Health 
• Tranquility 
• Harmony 

Blue 

• Calmness
• Serenity 
• Cold 
• Truth
• Wisdom  

Purple

• Royalty
• Sophistication 
• Exotic
• Spiritual 
• Respect 
• Mystery  

If we relate this with the past few posts, blue would work best with reading comprehension and concentration because of its cool tones. But when it comes to memorization and association, reds and yellows tend to stimulate the mind better. 

When it comes to ourselves and our mental healths, colors can change our moods, levels of anxiety, or our perceptions of certain situations. We can use colors for different situations. We can use purples to enhance our creativity when we tell stories; blues and greens can be used when we need to relax and de-stress; oranges and yellows are used when we stimulate our appetites; and reds are used to inspire passion or energy, like when we workout. Whatever the situation, colors will always have a subconscious effect on us. 

Sources:

Color Psychology: The Emotional Effects of Colors

https://deserthopetreatment.com/addiction-treatment/psychology/color-theory/