The Psychology Of Colors

[MOBLEYC57]

Somewhere,

someone was asking about colors, and I tried to post the link, but it didn't work. So....

Ever

wonder why advertisers, car designers and office decorators use certain shades and tones? Because there's a

psychology behind colors, that's why.

Each color of the spectrum has its own power

of influence. Some of our reactions to color are learned behaviors, and others are physiological responses.

Understanding more about colors will give you an edge in business, allow you additional advantages in your personal

life and help you determine when you are being manipulated.

Here are some pointers to

help you navigate beyond the clarity of black and white and through the warm and cool tones that influence our

moods, actions and impressions.

COLOR CODING



Colors can be broken into three different categories: neutrals, warms and cools:



Neutral colors: Black, white, gray, beige,

brown
Neutrals can be described as non-colors. They don't appear on the color

spectrum and are created by mixing other shades together. They can have positive or negative influences. White is

not actually a color, but is an absence of color. It denotes purity and innocence in Western cultures. Black, on the

other hand, often signifies assertiveness and formality.

Warm colors:

Red, orange, yellow, yellow-green, purple
Warm colors

stimulate the nervous system, amplifying our emotions. They are vivid and visible, and grab our attention.



Cool colors: Blue, violet, turquoise, sea-green,

green
Cool colors are easy on the eyes, inducing a sense of restfulness. Light blue

shades can evoke peacefulness and tranquility, and darker blues denote trustworthiness and dependability.



RED - Associated with intensity,

strength and good fortune.

PURPLE -

Associated with authority, power and regality.



BLUE - Associated with relaxation and tranquility. Darker shades convey

authority, loyalty and perseverance.

GREEN - Associated with

youth and naturalness. Green can suggest healing powers.



YELLOW - Associated with visibility and danger. Yellow

is often used as a warning color.

ORANGE - Associated with

warmth, contentment and wholesomeness.

BROWN - Associated

with earthiness, solidity and reliability.

BLACK -

Associated with power, authority and independence.

WHITE -

Associated with innocence, purity and strength of character. White flags are often taken as a sign of truce or

peace.

The manipulative power of colors...

Now that you

understand the suggestive associations of colors, here are some practical tips on how to use them to your benefit.



COLOR IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE

Color &

women

· Women tend to be at ease with and trust those who wear

blue.

· Send red roses to a lady as a sign of love and passion.



· Use yellow as a warning that it's a ”just friends”

relationship.

· Paint one of your living room walls a bold, rich

shade like deep red to give your lady friends the impression that you are strong.



· Dark green walls in the bedroom can suggest youthfulness and nature.



Color in your home

· Cool

shades for your bed sheets can help create a calming, stress-free zone and improve your sleep patterns.



· In the bedroom, use soft, cool wall colors like blue or

blue-green to promote relaxation for you and your guests.

· Deep

purple cushions on a neutral couch will give the impression of strength and wealth and can also stimulate the

imagination.

Color & clothes



· For casual wear that commands attention, choose red or green shirts. Wearing

a dark blue shirt or sweater may denote dependability.

· Scrap

your gloomy all-gray sweatsuit and choose a sweatshirt in a darker or lighter color to boost your mood.



· Dressing all in brown may look stylish but could be perceived

as drab and boring. Add warm or cool colors like yellow, gold or green to brighten up your image and your thought

processes.

Color & cars

· A

black car suggests a desire for anonymity.

· Certain shades of

blue and red suggest a showy driver.

· Yellow and orange

demonstrate that you're a sporty person.

· Choosing a silver or

gold car can give the impression of wealth.

COLOR IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL

LIFE

Color & business clothes



· Wear a power suit in dark gray, black or deep navy, and you'll be perceived

as successful, knowledgeable and serious.

· A crisp, white shirt

commands respect and gives the impression of formality.

· A beige

or off-white shirt gives a less conservative look.

· Select your

tie according to the image you wish to portray. A burgundy or navy blue one is a good choice in a serious business

meeting. A pink tie, although fashionable, is risky, as it may convey the wrong impression.



Color in your office

· Business cards and

letterheads are best in neutral colors. White or beige is always easier to read than colored stock.



· Pale blue walls are more inviting and relaxing than stark white.



· Rich burgundy or deep-purple upholstery can conjure up visions

of richness and royalty.

· For advertising materials, websites

and promotional items, use bold colors to attract consumers and neutral black printing for readability.



How colors are being used on you...

COLOR WHEEL

“SPIN”

Now that you have some ideas on how to use colors to your advantage, here

are some ways colors are being used to make an impression on you.

Power of

association Ever wondered why the uniforms of so many police or armed forces

personnel, and even those of subway guards and flight attendants, are black or dark blue? It's because those colors

signify power and authority.

Hospitals use pale green walls and curtains because of

the soothing, calming effects.

Advertising advantages

Fast food restaurants often use red and yellow for high visibility and instant

recognition. Coca Cola's famous logo is bright red, an intense, strong color, to ensure its product is recognized

and remembered. The courier UPS uses brown to denote reliability.

Design details

You'll often see red on a panic button or emergency stop lever. Green, on the other

hand, means "go." Observe an ATM or any other point-of-service keypad where a red button is used to continue a

transaction, and you'll see that most men will hesitate to use it. If it's a green button, most will proceed

without pausing.

When a website or advertisement highlights information with yellow,

our eye focuses on it and we pay attention.

We've also been conditioned to see green

as environmentally friendly. This is a clever and frequently employed use of the psychology of color to influence

our choices (hence the term, "greenwashing").

SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL

If you've never really paid much attention to the use of color, it's time to start.

Advertisers and savvy businessmen are using the psychology of color to influence you, so you might as well take

advantage of it, too.

Understanding what the different colors mean is

a great start. Use them wisely, with forethought and good taste, and you will impress women and clients, enhance

your image and increase your own well-being.

Yes .................................

I'm bored.

[ManBeast]

Great reading.

Thanks for the heads up about some of my wardrobe

MB

[SweetBrenda]

This was very

entertaining to read.

[DrSmellThis]

Nice

pos[b]t.[/

b]

[canivaro]

so for a male:

sassy pink

outfit + Extreme OD w/ NPA = lots lots and lots of DIHLs,

dont ye tink?

[MOBLEYC57]

so for a male:



sassy pink outfit + Extreme OD w/ NPA = lots lots and lots of DIHLs,

dont ye tink?

CANIVARO

[Holmes]

Cool post,

Mobley.

Color & clothes

For casual wear that commands attention, choose red

or green shirts. Wearing a dark blue shirt or sweater may denote dependability.

· Scrap your gloomy all-gray

sweatsuit and choose a sweatshirt in a darker or lighter color to boost your mood.

· Dressing all in brown

may look stylish but could be perceived as drab and boring. Add warm or cool colors like yellow, gold or green to

brighten up your image and your thought processes.

Nothing about black?

[MOBLEYC57]

Cool post,

Mobley.



Nothing about black?

Whadaya mean, Signor Holmes ... Nothing about black? There's black

all up in there all over everywhere there everywhere up in there!

[Holmes]

Whadaya mean,

Signor Holmes ... Nothing about black? There's black all up in there all over everywhere there everywhere up in

there!

Oh, I meant specifically under the "clothing" heading. But I guess it means pretty

much the same across the board (clothes, cars, etc.):

BLACK - Associated with power, authority and

independence.

Sorry 'bout that.

Very interesting stuff indeed.