The Science of Colors and Our Mood
Written By Devika Chauhan
Did you know that major fast food franchises typically use warm colours like red, yellow, and orange, because they are known to stimulate hunger? Color psychology is a whole field of study that focuses on how certain colors can influence emotional responses, mood, and physiological responses. Next time you decide your room needs a makeover, remember that your room’s walls are not just meant to look pretty, but will also impact how you feel.
This form of psychology is thought to be modern, however the influence of colours to invigorate specific emotions has long been used since ancient cultures. Colours were assumed to treat certain conditions and possess a significant role in spiritual and religious practices. Like many great artworks, literature, and pop culture references, us humans often associate certain colors with specific emotions. For example, one is most likely to correspond the color blue with calmness and tranquility, but can also convey feelings of sadness or melancholy.
Chromotherapy, also referred to as color therapy, is the use of colors to heal, a practice used in ancient Egyptian and Chinese cultures. In medicine today, chromatherapy is still used to provide another treatment method. To elaborate, exposure to green can help to relieve stress and relax a person due to its prevalence and association with nature and freshness. Although researchers are still lacking concrete scientific evidence about the ability of colours to treat certain diseases, it has been explored that colour therapy can be used as an effective stress reliever as well as boost your appetite providing more energy.
From the petals of roses to the walls in our house, colours are all around us. Their presence reverberates far more than just their ability to bring life to a dull room, but also triggers our emotional strings. And soon, our daily lives can maybe just become a symphony of emotions composed by the shades and hues around us.
References
Ohwovoriole, T. (2024, January 12). What Is Color Therapy? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/color-therapy-definition-types-techniques-and-efficacy-5194910
Written by Devika Chauhan