What is color psychology or chromatic psychology?

The chromatic psychology or psychology of color aims to analyze how colors influence us emotionally and what effects they have on behavior. It is important to bear in mind that certain aspects of this psychology are subjective, since they respond to previous associations that we have created from our experiences. There may also be variations in interpretation in different culturesFor example, in Asia the color of mourning is white, not black.

Some colors may have physiological effects, such as increasing your heart rate or adrenaline, improve memory or influence us when making decisions. But, we do not all perceive colors in the same way. An example would be people with synesthesia (able to feel or hear colors).

Since colors are known to influence our mood, It is usually used in different areas of our life to cause certain effects in a person:

• Design graphic, interior, fashionable ...
• Marketing and advertising.
• Art (painting, cinema, etc).
• Business
• Art therapy

Meaning of the colors

Blue

It is the favorite color for most people and is often associated with the sea and the sky. It is the color of harmony, serenity, security, trust and sympathy.

It is used by different social networks and companies, except those related to food, since reduces appetite. It can also appear cold and distant, which is why it is sometimes linked to spirituality and fantasy.

Red

It is associated with the heat, strength, passion, love and blood. It alerts us and captures our attention immediately. Is the color of urgency, so it is used in sales or emergency systems such as firefighters.

It is also associated with the danger and bravery. We relate it to the vitality and extreme sensations. Increases the heart rate and stimulates the appetite. In dress, it makes us behave in a more outgoing way.

Green

It is the color of nature and ecological, in fact environmentally conscious people call themselves "green." It reminds us of vegetation, growth, freshness, healing and resurgence, for something it is considered the color of hope.

It is a color used by interior designers to create relaxation, tranquility and well-being.

Too is associated with money and poison, hence the "green jokes" or someone staying "green with envy" or "turning us green."

Yellow

It is the color of the sun and gold and is associated with happiness, vitality and optimism. The "yellow day" (June 20) is considered the happiest day of the year. It is related to enlightenment, creativity, wealth and abundance, strength and stridency.

However, it is a contradictory color, as it also represents anger and betrayal, the lies and the warnings. Due to its intensity it can become irritating or fatigued, that is why in marketing it is applied on small surfaces.

pink

Represents the sweetness, delicacy, sensitivity and innocence. In our cultural context it is associated with the feminine due to gender stereotypes, which makes it abhorrent or corny for many. In marketing it is associated with the world of children, but also with romanticism ("pink novel"), since it is reminiscent of the color of meat.

Orange

It is a color that attracts attention, symbolizes the energy, extravagance. It also reflects emotion, warmth, although in an intense tone it can also be associated with aggression. It is also associated with transformation, to enthusiasm, to the divine and exaltationThat is why it is used, for example, by Buddhism.

It encourages purchase, which is why it is widely used in marketing.

Brown

It is one of the least appreciated colors. Although on the one hand it reminds us of autumn and feelings of warmth and comfort, it is usually associated mainly with negative elements such as dirt, ugliness, laziness or vulgarity. Hence popular expressions such as "eat a brown."

purple

It is an enigmatic color and less common than others. It is associated with feminine, magic, imagination, spirituality, religion, to luxury, power, elegance and sexuality.

Black

Like white, there are those who defend that it is not a color. According to physics, black absorbs 100% of incident light, therefore it does not reflect any wavelength of the color spectrum. It is related to the neighth, death, evil, destruction, the unknown or sadness, although also with the elegance, power and sobriety.

White

Represents the innocence and purity, being understood as the opposite of black. Represents the beginning, the goodness, cleanliness, healing, serenity and virtue.

• Some colors can have physiological effects (increase heart rate or adrenaline), improve memory or influence us when making decisions.
• Chromatic psychology has different fields of application: graphic design, advertising, art, business branding, art therapy ...
• It is important to bear in mind that certain aspects of the psychology of color are subjective, and respond to previous associations that we have created from our experiences.