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Colours can repaint our moods and minds 
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Colours can repaint our moods and minds 

Colours abound all around us, waiting for us to harness their therapeutic benefits
Colour psychology
Representational image | Shutterstock

A red-letter day means a special day. Just the thought of receiving a gift wrapped in bright red evokes excitement and joy.

Why is it that red has such a powerful effect on our mind and mood? Why do we loosen up and relax when we walk in a lush green garden or park? Why is the soft blue of the hospital nurse’s uniform so calming on pre-procedure nerves?

The answer lies in colour psychology. From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, colour influences our mood, emotion, and even our behaviour.

What is colour psychology?

The effect of colours on our emotions and behaviour is a well-known phenomenon, and it has given rise to the field of colour psychology. A research article published in the journal ‘Color Research and Application’ in 2018 revealed that colour choices are reflective of an individual’s mood to a certain extent.

The psychological effect of colour psychology

Cultural connotations

“The individual’s personal experiences and cultural background are important components in determining how a colour will affect them,” says Walaa Colorways, colour therapist-based Barcelona. For instance, white is generally associated with innocence and purity in western societies; it signifies bereavement, mourning, tragedy and sadness and sombre occasions in eastern cultures.

Heat and power

Walaa says colours can stimulate the body and the mind. For example, red can raise the body’s temperature and make one’s heartbeat go up. Someone who has a fever is advised to wear or have blue around; or other soothing colours which lower the body temperature and heart rate.

A journal article published in American Psychological Association looked at whether the colour red affects how well people can use their muscles. The researchers used ideas from studies on how animals react to threats and predicted that seeing red would make people stronger and faster. They tested this by asking participants to grip things while looking at different colours. They found that seeing red made people stronger and faster compared to grey and blue. This study showed that colour can affect how we move.

Colour association

“Each individual has their own association with different colours. Each person experiences each colour differently depending on their situation,” says Anoushka Kumar, expressive arts therapy facilitator from Delhi.

Giving an example of how colour can affect someone psychologically, Walaa says that someone who had phobia of swimming, or a past trauma where they nearly drowned, may not feel the same way about the colour blue.

She says blue works well for people who are anxious or stressed; it is often connected with calmness and tranquillity.

Similarly, because it represents spring, nature, growth, rejuvenation, youth or freshness and optimism, people often find green comforting when they are unhappy. Yellow represents positivity, happiness, and optimism, and is used to improve the mood of people who lack energy or self-esteem.

The application of colour psychology as a therapy using appropriate colours can be a potent technique to help improve people’s mental and emotional well-being, its practitioners say

Emotional context

The context in which a colour is employed is an important factor. Red, for example, may arouse anger and aggression in a political or sporting context, but it can also foster a sense of cosiness, bonding and warmth in a dining area.

Colours have their frames. But it is important to take into account the individual and contextual aspects. “However, by comprehending the fundamentals of colour psychology, we can use colour to set the right mood and ambience in our lives, whether it is at home, at work, or even through our clothes,” says Walaa.

A study published in Sage journals asked 4,598 people – they were from 30 countries and spoke 22 languages — to associate colours with emotions. The researchers found that there are universally similar associations between colours and emotions, but there were also some differences.

A machine learning algorithm showed that the place where they live and the language they speak influence people’s colour associations. People from similar geographical regions or who spoke the same language had similar associations. This study shows that colour-emotion associations are both universal and cultural and has implications for fields such as design and well-being.

Colour wheel
Walaa Colorways, colour therapist from Barcelona, shares her insights with Happiest Health | Illustration by Tanaya Choudhury

Colour psychology vs. colour therapy

Colour psychology and colour therapy are two different things, says Walaa. “Colour therapy is a holistic approach.

Whereas colour psychology looks at the emotional influences of colours and looks at it from more of a psychological point of view.” She says, “Colour therapy works more with the colour vibrations used in meditations and visualisations.”

Colour psychology explores how colours affect behaviour in people. It explores the effects that colour can have on our thoughts, feelings, and moods. It has been used in therapy to help individuals in overcoming a range of psychological and emotional difficulties.

Practitioners say therapists can create a soothing and restful environment that encourages healing and growth by recognising the power of colour.

A part of art therapy

Art therapy focuses on the expression of patterns and colours. Colour therapy is a part of art therapy. There are therapists who look at the colours being used during art therapy and analyse them.

According to Kumar, the focus of art therapy is to help someone express themselves, “Whether it is with the drawing to release stress, or to express themselves. We look into what each colour or pattern means to everyone, and the associations they have with them.”

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