The Phychology of Colour

All shades of colour have their own vibrations and we react the them in different ways dependant upon how we are feeling, our state of mind and physical health. Illness can severely affect these vibrations, we know that when we see people who are unwell, they looked drained of 'colour'.

When we are children, whilst our brains are still growing, we begin to discern colours such as red, before others. This is because we perceive these colours through the hypothalamus, making us sensitive towards the frequencies of certain colours, red being the highest and therefore the first we see.

Our perceptions of these colours change will change with age.

The fundamental aspects of colour are:

Hue: Essentially, the qualities of the colour we perceive, as we see on colour wheels, are a varying selection of hues. Hues are also the names of colours and their colour family. This is attributed to the wavelengths of the colours themselves.

Value: Is the lightness of a colour. It is the quality by which we can tell the difference between a light colour and dark one. To increase the value of a colour, it is lightened, or tinted, by adding more and more white to it. To decrease the value of a colour, it is darkened, or shaded, by adding more and more black to it. White has the highest value and is always at the high end of the value scale. Black has the lowest value and lies at the low end of the value scale.

Intensity: Also known as chroma, it is the saturation or strength of a colour. It is the quality by which we can tell a strong colour from a weak one. In a colour intensity scale, the less intense or weaker samples will approach grey, while the more intense, or stronger samples will approach a pure, jewel-like colour.

The Psychology

Different colours will spark different emotions.

Red - The Base Chakra - Bottom of the Spine, Foundations, Grounding, Element Earth Symbolises fire and blood, and stands for excitement and physical strength. It has a great deal of energy and intensity, and can also create a very romantic, passionate or dramatic mood. It can appear aggressive and should be used appropriately as it could create the wrong impression. If worn in business, keep it small - a tie for a man, preferably below the waist for a woman, a red jacket could be perceived as too much, but is entirely dependant upon the situation and the audience, just be aware of the potential reactions to this colour.

Pink and Peach - Are delicate, feminine, compassionate and calming. They project less energy than red. They can be worn by men exceptionally well, especially when contrasted with deeper colours, a pink tie worn with a charcoal suit for example. A peach shirt with stone chinos at the weekend.

Orange - The Second Chakra - Sacral, just below the belly button, Element Water Stands for fire and sunlight. Orange is like red, but toned down in intensity. It can reflect friendliness and liveliness. It is a 'happy' colour and loved by children, hence it is used extensively in children's toys, clothes, games etc.

Yellow - The Third Chakra - Solar Plexus, between bottom of chest and top of belly button, Element Fire Yellow is the colour of sunshine. It represents radiance, warmth and receptivity and brings out an approachable and cheerful outlook.

Green: The Fourth Chakra - The Element of Air - Green is one of the more dualistic colours, either representing tranquillity and order or drama and tension depending on where it is worn.

Blue: The Fifth Chakra - The Element of Space - The value of blue really defines how it is perceived. Light blues are often seen as calming, whilst darker values are more authoritative.

Purple - The Sixth Chakra - The Third Eye, middle of the forehead, Element Light. Purple stands for the mystical, sensitivity, uniqueness and artistry. In ancient times, it suggested wealth and royalty because as a dye, it was rare and expensive to produce. It is still used today in the highest echelons of Royalty, The Law, The Church

Brown: A comfortable and plain colour, brown a sign of reliability, normality and security.

Black - Stands for the night, power, mystery and dignity. It has been one of the most well used fashion colours.

Grey: Basic levels of grey invoke neutrality, mediation and conservatism, darker greys show authority and seniority.

White: The Seventh Chakra - Symbolic of cleanliness, purity and innocence.

Now you know the unconscious power of colour, I'm sure you'll begin to use them with care. More vibrant colours, such as oranges, pinks and reds, can give you a boost early in the day, although you may need to consider the reactions of those around you.

Experiment with different colours and your mood and discover for yourself just how powerful colour is, it's a lot more than what colour lipstick you can wear!

Article Source: http://www.myaddirectory.com

Do you want to become an Image Consultant visit our web site www.kdcimageconsultant for more information.

If You want to use this article on your website then select COPY THIS ARTICLE in the Menu on the right side!

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated