What does the color white mean in psychology?

White, which groups all the colors of the rainbow, has powerful symbolism.

White is an achromatic color that is normally opposed to black for being just the opposite: it is absolute clarity, or the absence of darkness.

But it is not simply that, since beyond what white technically is, there remains the impact it has on the human mind. An impact modulated by the culture in which we live and by the system of symbols from which we experience reality, of course, and which is related to a series of sensations and concepts that it evokes when we see it.

In this article we will see what does the color white mean in different societies and culturesfocusing especially on Western countries.

What does the color white mean in different cultures?

It must be taken into account that there is no universal meaning of the color white, but that it is always mediated by the cultural context in which we have been educated. is always mediated by the cultural context in which we have been educated and which influences us in our daily and that influences us in our daily lives. So, let's see what concepts and sensations white evokes, distinguishing by cultural blocks.

In the West

As we shall see, in Western countries white is associated with a series of concepts that are associated with a fragile and momentary balance, a state in which there are no antagonisms or stridencies. In a way, these place the white in a position of closeness to the spiritual, which has traditionally been seen as beyond matter and not subject to the imperfections of the earthly..

1. Purity and naivety

The paradox of white is that, despite being the combination of all the colors present in the rainbow, it represents purity. This has been the meaning of white most associated with white, purity being understood as, normally, that which has not been corrupted, so it has clear moral connotations.

Perhaps this is because the color white is seen as something of precarious existence, which can fade when any other element comes into contact with it; the immaculate becomes stained when white is invaded by dirt coming from other elements.

For a similar reason, in Western countries, white signifies innocence, since it is related to childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood, childhood and childhood. it is related to infancy, that which has not had time to be corrupted.. It is a fatalistic perception of the life cycle that is embodied in our way of attributing meanings to this color. In addition, the concept of naivety is also related to white.

On the other hand, as white is purity, it is also widely used in ceremonies related to the sacred, since it is said that before the divine it is necessary to present oneself without blemish. Wedding dresses are the clearest example of this.

2. The clean

In addition, white represents the clean, the sterilized, also related to purity. For this reason, it is used a lot in the hotel and catering business and in the health fieldto reassure people and convey a sense of calm.

3. Peace

Another meaning of white is that of peace, which is often symbolized by the figure of a white dove. In fact, this is also why it is it is linked to the flag of the surrenders and those used to ask for truce..

The reason why white means peace may have to do with the fact that it is beyond the typical chromatic compositions of the flags and emblems of the clans that face each other in battles.

While the rest of the colors are usually present in concrete figures that serve to distinguish sides, white is perceived as something with its own entity, being the union of all colors, and is therefore beyond the logic of division based on division.

4. Nothingness

From what we have seen, white also represents the represents the absence of matter, emptiness. This representation of nothingness makes it possible to place white in the concept of what exists "by default", independently of everything else.

A blank space is there without anything having to fill it, since white is nothingness, and it will become full when we add something to it. Perhaps this has to do with the meaning of purity, which leads us to think of this color as if it were an element that has not yet been affected by anything, and to which everything is yet to be added.

In China

Curiously, in China white has traditionally symbolized death and bad luck. death and bad luck. At weddings, instead of white, the color red has been used.

In India

In Indian culture, white symbolizes a life of contemplation and detachment from the rest of society, something linked to the Western notion of purity, but with more social and isolating connotations. but with more social and isolating connotations.. For this reason, widows usually wear white, not black.

Bibliographical references:

• Plochere Color System. Kenneth L. Kelly and Deanne B. Judd. (1976): "Color: Universal Language and Dictionary of Names", National Bureau of Standards, Spec. Publ. 440
• Heller, Eva (2012). Psychology of color. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.