Color is not only our visual enjoyment, it can also profoundly affect our emotions and behaviors. Have you ever felt like time flies by in a fast food restaurant, but feels like it passes slowly in a coffee shop? Or do you have an illusion of ‘forward’ or ‘retreat’ when looking at certain colors? Hidden behind these phenomena is actually the mystery of color psychology.
In this article, we’ll look at how color affects our perception in different contexts, including time perception, distance perception, and the unique role of color in military camouflage, love symbolism, brand image, and more. You will discover that color is not just a decorative tool, it also subtly shapes our experiences and decisions. Get ready to follow us as we unravel the mysteries of color psychology and learn how to harness the power of color to improve your quality of life!
Can’t go on a date at a fast food restaurant? How color affects time perception
Have you ever noticed that the decorations of fast food restaurants are mostly orange and red, while the colors of cafes are often cooler? What’s the psychology behind this? In fact, this is closely related to the impact of color on time perception.
When we are in an environment dominated by red, we often feel that time passes very slowly. Sensory time is extended, and people tend to become restless; in a blue environment, time seems to fly by. This phenomenon has been verified by psychologists. Someone once conducted an experiment in which two people were asked to enter a red room and a blue room respectively, and they were asked to walk out after an hour based on their feelings. As a result, the people in the red room came out after only 40 minutes, while the people in the blue room had not left after 70 minutes.
This also explains why fast food restaurants like to use red and orange: these colors can shorten customers’ dining time and increase seat turnover rate. On the contrary, cafes are usually decorated in cool colors to make customers feel relaxed and more suitable for long conversations. Therefore, the best places for dates are of course places with cooler tones, such as cafes or aquariums, where you can enjoy more intimate time.
Can color change distance? The optical illusion of advancing and receding colors
You may have also noticed that when walking down the street, we can easily see the KFC or McDonald’s logo even from a long distance away. In addition to the bright colors of these signs, the color itself changes our perception of distance.
Just imagine, when you stare at a certain color for a period of time, do you feel that some objects are closer to you, while others are further away? This illusion of distance is particularly important in the choice of color. Generally, advancing colors (such as red, orange) make objects appear closer to you, while receding colors (such as blue, purple) make objects appear further away from you.
For example, using a receding color as a background color when decorating a room can make the space appear more spacious. Similarly, when applying makeup, using a foundation that is one shade lighter than the base color on the cheekbones can make the face appear more three-dimensional, because this color is an advanced color compared to the base color and highlights the layering of the face.
Is pink the best military camouflage color? ‘Mountbatten Powder’ in World War II
When it comes to military camouflage colors, you may think of green and brown colors that are common in nature. However, in the history of war, the British army once used pink as a camouflage color. This practice sounds incredible, but it is true.
During World War II, British naval commander Mountbatten decided to paint his destroyers pink, forming a ‘King Kong Barbie Team.’ The color came to be known as ‘Mountbatten Pink’ and under certain light conditions, such as dusk or dawn, the pink subtly blends with the sky to achieve an invisible effect.
However, Mountbatten pink was too conspicuous during the day, so its use was short-lived and was eventually replaced by blue or other camouflage. However, this touch of pink does add a touch of fun to the cold military world.
Why is yellow always associated with love? The dual symbolism of yellow in psychology
Yellow is a color full of contradictions. It can not only symbolize light and vitality, but also express sourness and aging. Van Gogh often used yellow in his paintings. ‘Van Gogh Yellow’ conveys his passion and desire for life. Yellow is called a ‘comedy color’ in psychology because it makes people feel happy and warm.
In love themes, yellow often symbolizes sweet and mature feelings. For example, the painter Chagall used yellow to express his strong love for his wife Bella. However, yellow also has negative connotations, for example it may be associated with the sourness of lemons, or in the Middle Ages, yellow became a symbol of shame and discrimination.
Since ancient times, red and blue have produced CP? The psychological effects of red and blue colors
Red and blue colors are very common in sports competitions because this combination can stimulate people’s fighting spirit and competitive spirit. Red represents passion and courage, while blue symbolizes calmness and reason. When these two colors are combined, they will produce a strong visual impact and enhance recognition.
In addition, red, as the color with the longest wavelength, can create a visual sense of approaching, while blue, as the color with the shortest wavelength, gives people a sense of contraction. The red and blue color scheme has therefore become a classic partner in the sports world and is also widely used in various logo designs.
Are white walls the main culprit? The impact of color on work efficiency
Although white is bright and clean, it may not be the best choice for improving efficiency in an office environment. Studies have shown that working in a pure white room can lead to fatigue and irritability. A University of Texas study found that people who work in white rooms tend to make more mistakes.
Although white looks simple, it stimulates the brain too strongly. Especially when used against the background of fluorescent lamps, white will appear paler, thereby exacerbating fatigue. Therefore, if you want to increase your productivity, choosing more calming tones such as beige, blue or green may be a better choice.
The Fortune 500 prefer blue logos? The role of blue in corporate branding
Blue is very common in the logos of Fortune 500 companies, such as Intel, Facebook, and HP. This is because blue can convey an image of professionalism, stability and trustworthiness. In addition, blue can make people feel calm and focused, thus winning the trust of consumers.
The common use of blue logos also reflects its effect in psychology, especially in the high-tech and financial industries, where blue can effectively convey the core values of a brand.
Different areas, color changes drastically: the impact of color area on visual effects
The area of a color has a significant impact on its visual effect. When the color area increases, its original effect will be strengthened. The larger the area, the stronger the impact. For example, black appears clean and tidy in small areas, but can feel depressing or intimidating when larger. Therefore, in design, rational use of color area can help us better convey the intended information.
Conclusion
That’s it for today’s little introduction to color psychology! If you are interested in color psychology, you might as well try the FPA (Four-colors Personality Analysis) personality color test. This test is based on Hippocrates’ four-fluid theory, which divides human personality into four categories: red, blue, yellow and green. Through the FPA test, you can quickly grasp the personality characteristics of yourself and others, and improve your personal interaction effects in work and life. Click here to take the test and get detailed analysis to improve your interpersonal skills and self-understanding.
Link to this article: https://m.psyctest.cn/article/jNGeDdMb/
If the original article is reprinted, please indicate the author and the source in the form of this link.
