Modern scientists argue that color is a strong communication mechanism that affects mood, causes action and can even cause physical reactions
Color perception psychology is the study of how different hues and tones affect people. Researchers Andrew Elliott and Marcus Meyer stated, “Given the amount of color [in our lives], one would assume that the psychology of color perception would be a perfectly developed scientific field. Surprisingly, there is very little theoretical or empirical work that examines the effects of hues on people’s mental functioning. Moreover, what there is is driven not by scientific cognition but by concerns of a practical nature.”
Researchers are referring to the trend in recent decades, where the influence of colors on people is being studied much more by marketers, artists, designers and others for their professional needs.
Modern research on color perception
A number of ancient cultures, including Egypt and China, used chromotherapy-the treatment of color. Modern scientists are skeptical about such practices, but there is no denying that color can have a short-term effect on a person’s mental state. Studies have proven that:
- Pill pills colored in warm colors (red, yellow, orange) influenced experimental participants better than placebos in cool colors (blue, purple, green);
- the use of blue in streetlights reduces neighborhood crime rates and suicides;
- red makes people act with increased physical strength and speed;
- sports teams wearing black uniforms are more likely to receive warnings and penalties from referees;
- students who were shown red before an exam did 20 percent worse on their assignments compared to those who saw green and black.
Researchers also agree that perceptions of color are personalized, but also combined with cultural traditions. For example, white hues in European culture signify purity and innocence, while in Eastern culture they signify bitterness and worry.