The Effect of Color on Mood

Black

Black is the color of authority and power. It is popular in fashion because it makes people appear thinner. It is also stylish and timeless. Black also implies submission. Priests wear black to signify submission to God. Some fashion experts say a woman wearing black implies submission to men. Black outfits can also be overpowering, or make the wearer seem aloof or evil. Villains, such as Dracula, often wear black.

White

Brides wear white to symbolize innocence and purity. White reflects light and is considered a summer color. White is popular in decorating and in fashion because it is light, neutral, and goes with everything. However, white shows dirt and is therefore more difficult to keep clean than other colors. Doctors and nurses wear white to imply sterility.

Red

The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also the color of love. Red clothing gets noticed and makes the wearer appear heavier. Since it is an extreme color, red clothing might not help people in negotiations or confrontations. Red cars are popular targets for thieves. In decorating, red is usually used as an accent. Decorators say that red furniture should be perfect since it will attract attention.

The most romantic color, pink, is more tranquilizing. Sports teams sometimes paint the locker rooms used by opposing teams bright pink so their opponents will lose energy.

Blue

The color of the sky and the ocean, blue is one of the most popular colors. It causes the opposite reaction as red. Peaceful, tranquil blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals, so it is often used in bedrooms. Blue can also be cold and depressing. Fashion consultants recommend wearing blue to job interviews because it symbolizes loyalty. People are more productive in blue rooms. Studies show weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms.

Green

Currently the most popular decorating color, green symbolizes nature. It is the easiest color on the eye and can improve vision. It is a calming, refreshing color. People waiting to appear on TV sit in "green rooms" to relax. Hospitals often use green because it relaxes patients. Brides in the Middle Ages wore green to symbolize fertility. Dark green is masculine, conservative, and implies wealth. However, seamstresses often refuse to use green thread on the eve of a fashion show for fear it will bring bad luck.

Yellow

Cheerful sunny yellow is an attention getter. While it is considered an optimistic color, people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms, and babies will cry more. It is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. Yellow enhances concentration, hence its use for legal pads. It also speeds metabolism.

Purple

The color of royalty, purple connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication. It is also feminine and romantic. However, because it is rare in nature, purple can appear artificial.

Brown

Solid, reliable brown is the color of earth and is abundant in nature. Light brown implies genuineness while dark brown is similar to wood or leather. Brown can also be sad and wistful. Men are more apt to say brown is one of their favorite colors.

Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

WEIRD

This is the more fun side of psychology. Understanding how the mind works allows us to figure out what we will think based what you are told to thin about. Try it for yourself. Personally, i thought of a purple hammer, not a red one. But thats close enough for me,

Basic Psychology

According to Merriam Webster, psychology is:

1 : the science of mind and behavior

2

a : the mental or behavioral characteristics of an individual or groupb : the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity

3

: a theory or system of psychology.

Blahh Blahh Blahh. That all means that psychology is the study of how our brain works. Not the actual biology and stuff, but the conscious mind and its counterpart, the sub-conscious, as well as how we think, what we think and why we think that. Psychologists study the mind, not the brain, as the mind cannot be truly seen or touched. Great minds such as Albert Einstein have had their brains preserved for scientists to study, but you cannot preserve the mind. The brain does hold the mind, but once the spark of life is gone, the mind is lost forever. That is why psychology is so important. We need to study the mind to unlock it's true potential. I hate to reference movies, but if anyone has seen Limitless, one pill unlocks all of the mind's hidden potential. Seeing as there is no "magic pill", we have a long way to go before that happens, but the point is, it could be possible. There are no boundaries for the human mind. Who knows what it is capable of, or could become capable of? If only it could be unlocked, we would know. Psychology will one day unlock it.