"Colour is a powerful, physical, biological, and psychological force."
-John Paul Caponigro
What's your favourite colour? A question that is posed to us regardless of our age. We are attracted to colours and want to know which colours others prefer and why.
Our favourite colours make us feel something pleasant and we usually use the colours we prefer the most. And, while colours are an essential aspect of everyday life, did you know that there's a study directed at how humans feel about colours?
Without further ado, in today's article, we're going to define colour psychology, what different colours mean in psychology, and why colour psychology is used in marketing and branding. Let's get colourful!
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What is Colour Psychology?
Did you know that your favourite colour reveals a lot about you? Anyway, that's what colour psychology theories claim. Colours excite us, sadden us, or anger us. We feel a wide range of emotions when colours are mixed. To better understand how we react to colours, psychologists have developed the discipline of colour psychology.
But, what is colour psychology? In the simplest of terms, colour psychology can be described as the study that determines how different colours make us feel and the emotions that they have the tendency of evoking in us.
Carl Jung is known as one of the early pioneers of colour psychology.
Colour psychology goes across various sectors and serves the purpose of analysing how colours affect our day-to-day decisions.
It's important to state that colour psychology is one of the primary disciplines of psychology and is touched on during many BSc and MSc degree programs that deal with psychology.
What Do Different Colours Mean in Psychology?
Even if you don't have a fancy university degree in psychology, it's still possible to learn about colour psychology and how it affects us. But, what do different colours signify in the observations of colour theory? Well, it's important to state that when it comes to the psychological effects of colour, there are two main categories: warm and cool. Let's take a look at the following list to see what warm and cool colours are supposed to make us feel:
- Cool: colours such as shades of blue, green, and purple are responsible for eliciting feelings of calmness, quietness, and sadness. They are peaceful and aren't associated with feelings of intense emotion.
- Warm: different types of reds, oranges, and yellows are on the other side of the emotional spectrum and they tend to spark feelings such as anger, excitement, and hostility. However, it's been discovered that reds and yellows can bring warmth to certain individuals since they associate these colours with peaceful scenes such as sunrises and sunsets.
Also, some psychologists have discovered that each of the following colours on the list below has unique meanings:
- Green: new beginnings, nature, and an abundance of things.
- Purple: creativity, royalty, and wealth.
- Yellow: happiness, hope, and deceit.
- Red: love, passion, and warfare.
- Blue: calmness, coolness, and sadness.
- Black: power and elegance.
Marketing experts and social media creators understand how the previously mentioned make us feel and they use them accordingly.
What are the Best Books to Learn Colour Psychology?
To fully grasp the ideas behind the theories of colour psychology, it's essential to consider using helpful learning resources such as YouTube videos, website articles, and books written by trusted psychologists. Nonetheless, since there are so many resources available on colour psychology, it can be overwhelming for learners to pick the best options.
Without further ado, the following list covers the best books available that discuss colour psychology in further detail:
- Interaction of Colour: written by Josef Albers, Interaction of Colour is a masterpiece in the sector of art education and colour psychology. Albers analyses colour theory and how different colours can make us feel emotions and be blended. A must-read for students who want a thorough grasp and understanding of the colours.
- The Secret Lives of Colour: a British non-fiction novel written by the brilliant Kassia St. Clair, The Secret Lives of Colour was originally published in 2016 as a guide to help readers better comprehend the nuances of the cultural and historical significance of specific colours. St. Clair explains individual colours in her book from black to white. A perfect introduction to colour psychology.
- Colour Psychology and Colour Therapy: a fantastic book written by Faber Birren, Colour Psychology and Colour Therapy provide readers with a thorough understanding of how colours are an essential part of psychology and how they can be used as therapy techniques. Birren has published more than 25 works about colour theory; therefore, he's a trusted expert in colour therapy.
While the previously mentioned books are only three on the topic of colour psychology, there are many more to consider. However, we're certain that these intriguing reads will set you off on the right path of learning.
Though it's not the same as reading an informative guide, many intriguing videos on YouTube discuss the basics of colour psychology. Take a look at the Braincraft and The Online Learning Space YouTube channels to learn essential tidbits about colour therapy and how they influence shopping and market strategies.
Why is Colour Psychology Used in Marketing and Branding?
As we've briefly discussed in the previous subheadings, colours have a way of making us feel specific emotions. It can be said that colours have a language of their own. Colours persuade us to act on impulse and feel things. Marketing experts recognize this fact and they use colours to convince us to buy things and spend more money.
Though we may feel that we are stronger than the techniques marketing experts use to lure us, there is much data that claims that the overwhelming majority of persons who buy products have claimed that it was because they were drawn to the colours used. Therefore, it cannot be refuted, the psychology of colour is consistently used in the sector of advertisement since it has a powerful effect on human beings and causes us to empty wallets and spend money on items we may or may not need.
Retailers combine colours to evoke emotions that make us think of thoughts of vibrancy, growth, abundance, happiness, freshness, cool, calm, and warmth. Brand owners who adhere to the standard principles of colour theory are more successful since they are finding clientele by using the right colours to attract them.
Are you intrigued by colour psychology? Take a look at the following subheading and see how it's possible to learn more about colour therapy with a qualified tutor.
Can You Learn Colour Psychology With a Tutor?
While attending further education programs in the UK is the most typical way of acquiring an understanding of psychology genres, it's important to state that there are other options. Such as? Self-guided courses on sites such as Udemy and private lessons with a professional and qualified tutor.
Self-paced lessons are a great option for learners who are on a very tight budget. However, they never get the experience of learning from a trained individual who has years of expertise in their domain since the course material is pre-recorded.
Therefore, if your circumstances allow you, we greatly suggest acquiring additional information about colour psychology with a professional tutor. But, where and how? Though various online tutoring communities boast reputable educators, there is only one that is worth your time and that is Superprof.
With more than 19 million expert tutors teaching 1000+ academic disciplines, Superprof is a leader in the e-learning and tutoring sectors. As for colour psychology, according to our site, there are currently 60 tutors that have "colour psychology" listed in the topics they teach on their profiles. We highly recommend searching through every instructor by reading their profile and seeing whether their teaching style matches with your learning goals.
But, how are classes conducted? For the most part, lessons with colour psychology instructors on Superprof are carried out online via learning platforms such as Zoom or Skype. However, if the tutor lives nearby, face-to-face lessons are a possibility.
If you're still hesitating about whether Superprof is the correct option for you when learning about colour psychology, the following reasons might sway you in the right direction:
- A variety of professional tutors to choose from,
- The possibility to learn in-person or virtually,
- A fantastic tutor/student support staff,
- An easy-to-use lesson booking software.
Also, in most cases, psychology tutors conduct the first lesson with new students for free; now that's a bonus!
In conclusion, as important as other genres of psychology, colour psychology examines human behaviour and dictates how people are affected by colours daily.
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