Colours and Human Behaviours 15

The Colour Black

The meaning of the colour black is mystery and protection

Black is the colour of the hidden, the secretive and the unknown, creating an air of mystery. It keeps things bottled up inside, hidden from the world.

In colour psychology the meaning of the colour black is protection from external emotional stress. It creates a barrier between itself and the outside world, providing comfort while protecting its emotions and feelings, and hiding its vulnerabilities, insecurities and lack of self-confidence.

Black is the absorption of all colour and the absence of light. Black hides, while white brings to light. What black covers, white uncovers. We all use black at various times to hide from the world around us in one way or another. Some of us use it to hide our weight; others among us use it to hide our feelings, our fears or our insecurities.

In colour psychology, black means power and control, hanging on to information and things rather than giving out to others.

Black is intimidating, unfriendly and unapproachable because of the power it exudes. It can prevent two-way communication because of its intimidation. The salesman wearing all black will make a lot of sales, but no friends! It radiates authority, but creates fear in the process.

Black implies self-control and discipline, independence and a strong will, and giving an impression of authority and power.

Black absorbs negative energy. It is useful to carry something black with you to protect you from harm and negativity when traveling or when going about your usual daily activities outside your home.

People who like black may be conventional, conservative and serious, or they may think of themselves as being sophisticated or very dignified.

The colour black is often seen as a colour of sophistication, as in 'the little black dress', or 'the black tie event'. Affluent and success orientated women often choose black as it can give an impression of elegance, sophistication and confidence.

Black is often associated with sexiness and seduction, as in the temptress in sexy black lingerie creating an air of mystery and intrigue. It can also imply submission to another (including a sexual partner), similar to the priest wearing black robes in submission to God.

Black is the end, but the end always implies a new beginning. When the light appears, black becomes white, the colour of new beginnings.

Teenagers often have a psychological need to wear black during the stage of transition from the innocence of childhood to the sophistication of adulthood. It signifies the ending of one part of their life and the beginning of another, allowing them to hide from the world while they discover their own unique identity. It is important they go through this stage but a worry when it continues on into adult years if they continue to wear black to the exclusion of other colours.

Too much black can cause depression and mood swings and create a negative environment. Combined with white only, it can create an argumentative atmosphere. It is best to use some colour with black to lighten and brighten its energy.

Positive and Negative Traits

Positive keywords include protection and comfort, strong, contained, formal, sophisticated, seductive, mysterious, endings & beginnings.

Negative keywords include aloof, depressing and pessimistic, secretive and withholding, conservative and serious, power & control, sadness and negativity.

The Colour Black Represents

Mystery: Black is the unknown. It is secretive, keeping a lot buried inside, unwilling to show its real feelings.

Power and Control: Black is power and control of the self and others. It creates fear and intimidation.

Effects of the Colour Black

Formal, dignified and sophisticated: As in the little black dress and the formal dinner suit.

Aloof: Black sets itself aside from others with its heavy and intense energy. It keeps others at arm's length.

Depressing: Black can close us to the positive aspects of life, forcing us to look at our disappointments and the black or negative aspects of our life. It can create a fear of the future.

Pessimistic: Too much black encourages us to look at the negative side of life.

Colours and Human Behaviours 14

The Colour White

The meaning of the colour white is purity, innocence, wholeness and completion

White is colour at its most complete and pure, the colour of perfection. The colour meaning of white is purity, innocence, wholeness and completion.

In colour psychology white is the colour of new beginnings, wiping the slate clean, so to speak. It is the blank canvas waiting to be written upon. While white isn't stimulating to the senses, it opens the way for the creation of anything the mind can conceive.

White contains an equal balance of all the colours of the spectrum, representing both the positive and negative aspects of all colours. Its basic feature is equality, implying fairness and impartiality, neutrality and independence. It is interesting to note that babies come into the world with a perfect balance of white, ready to imprint their lives with all the colours of the spectrum (hopefully!) from all their life experiences.

White is totally reflective, awakening openness, growth and creativity. You can't hide behind it as it amplifies everything in its way.

The color white is cleanliness personified, the ultimate in purity!! This is why it is traditionally worn by western brides, and the reason why doctors wear white jackets.

White is a color of protection and encouragement, offering a sense of peace and calm, comfort and hope, helping alleviate emotional upsets. It creates a sense of order and efficiency, a great help if you need to declutter your life.

White offers an inner cleansing and purifying of your thoughts, emotions and, ultimately, your spirit, refreshing and strengthening your entire energy system.

While there are very few negative connotations to white, particularly in western culture, too much white can be cold, isolating and empty. It implies a feeling of sterility, detachment and disinterest, providing little stimulation for the senses.

In other cultures it is traditionally related to death and mourning. In these cultures death usually means the end of one life and the beginning of another, moving forward to a new life, so the colour psychology meaning of new beginnings still holds.

White may indicate the completion of a cycle in your life - you may find you have a desire for white clothing or white in your surroundings at a time when you are moving in a new direction in your life - for example, planning an overseas trip for the first time, or moving house after a long time in one place, or in seeking a new relationship or a new career direction.

Many people use white as a recall of their youth and innocence. It reminds them of a time when their lives were easier and less complicated.

White is used in many medical practices such as dental surgeries and doctors' rooms as an indication of cleanliness and efficiency; however it also can give the feeling of sterility and coldness of emotions and may lead patients to think the doctor or dentist won't relate to them on an emotional and personal level. It can be too clinical and sterile.

Too much white can cause feelings of isolation and emptiness; it can be too pristine and immaculate, making you feel as though you can't make a move for fear of upsetting it or creating a mess.

Positive and Negative Traits of the Colour White

Positive keywords include: innocence, purity, cleanliness, equality, complete and whole, simplicity, immaculate and neat, self-sufficient, pristine and open, new beginnings.

Negative keywords include: sterile, stark, fastidious, empty, isolated, cautious, critical and boring.

The Colour White Represents:

Innocence and purity: White is the beginning of everything, before anything is muddied or thinking is 'coloured'.

New beginnings: White represents the clean slate, helping us through times of stress, and allowing us put the past behind us and preparing us to move on.

Equality and unity: White represents the positive as well as the negative aspects of all colours. It contains an equal balance of all the colours of the spectrum.

Effects of White:

Impartial: White suggests fairness and neutrality because of the balance and equality of all the colours contained within it.

Rescuer: White rescues us from the dark. It is the white knight, rescuing the damsel in distress.

Futuristic: Symbolizing a clean slate, we can envisage anything with white.

Efficient: White is clean and clinical, giving an impression of efficiency and organization.

Colours and Human behaviours 13

The colour gold

The colour gold is the colour of success, achievement and triumph. Associated with abundance and prosperity, luxury and quality, prestige and sophistication, value and elegance, the psychology of the colour gold implies affluence, material wealth and extravagance.

Gold in its physical state, by its very nature, denotes wealth and prestige in every country, culture and market in the world today - it is probably the most valuable and easily traded commodity available in the global market place.

This colour is linked to masculine energy and the power of the sun, compared to silver which is associated with feminine energy and the sensitivity of the moon.

Optimistic and positive, gold adds richness and warmth to everything with which it is associated - it illuminates and enhances other things around it.

At the uppermost level, the colour gold is associated with higher ideals, wisdom, understanding and enlightenment. It inspires knowledge, spirituality and a deep understanding of the self and the soul.

In the meaning of colours, gold is generous and giving, compassionate and loving, the benefactor or patron, sharing its wisdom, knowledge and wealth with others.

Gold is the colour of the winner - first place medals are always in gold, silver is second place.

Confident, passionate and eye-catching, gold draws attention to itself.

Gold is a warm colour that can be shiny, glistening and happy as well as dull, muted and traditional. The brighter shades of gold catch the eye with their brilliance while the darker muted shades are deep, warm and intense.

Gold has long been associated with royalty throughout the world, along with purple.

Being surrounded by too much gold can lead you to become egotistical, self-righteous and opportunistic in your quest for greater power and influence.

If living under the negative of the colour gold, you may not trust easily, have a fear of success and wealth, or even exhibit a fear of failure. You may be selfish and demanding, lacking kindness and generosity, even to the extreme of being miserly.

Positive and Negative Traits

Positive keywords include: Success, abundance, wealth, understanding, self-worth, wisdom, compassion, love, passion, charisma, winning, optimistic, positive, and masculine

Negative keywords include: Fear of success, fear of wealth, self-centred, demanding, mean spirited, lack of trust, falseness

Gold Represents:

Success: gold relates to achievement and victory, the winner.

Wealth: gold implies affluence, material wealth and extravagance.

Prestige and luxury: gold is associated with sophistication, elegance, value, quality and status.

Effects of Gold:

Enlightenment: gold, at its highest level, inspires knowledge, spirituality and a deep understanding of the self and the soul.

Compassion: caring, loving, generous and giving, gold is the benefactor or patron.

Generosity: gold loves to share its wisdom, knowledge and wealth with others.

Colours and Human Behaviours 12

The colour silver

The colour silver has a feminine energy; it is related to the moon and the ebb and flow of the tides - it is fluid, emotional, sensitive and mysterious. It is soothing, calming and purifying.

From a colour psychology viewpoint, it signals a time of reflection and a change of direction as it illuminates the way forward. It helps with the cleansing and releasing of mental, physical and emotional issues and blockages as it opens new doors and lights the way to the future.

With its reflective and sensitive qualities silver inspires intuition, clairvoyance and mental telepathy. It reflects back any energy given out, whether it is positive or negative.

In the meaning of colours, it is associated with prestige and wealth. It is seen as a glamorous, sophisticated colour related to female energy, prosperity and modernity.

Silver restores equilibrium and stability to both feminine power and spiritual energy. It protects itself from outside negativity, reflecting the energy back to where it began.

This colour is very versatile, being shiny, modern and hi-tech on one hand and alluring, sparkling and elegant on the other.

From a colour psychology perspective, silver is respectable and courteous, dignified, self-controlled, responsible, patient, determined and organized - it relates well to the corporate world and those in positions of responsibility, whether they are male or female.

In colour psychology, with a balance between black and white, silver is seen as a good critic, unbiased and compassionate with a mature sense of justice.

Traditionally silver represents the celebration of the 25th anniversary and is related to the graceful aging of those with silver coloured hair.

It is a colour that works well with most other colours - it illuminates and reflects the energy of those colours which surround it.

The colour silver has similar energy to gray but it is more light-hearted and optimistic.

From a negative aspect, silver can be indecisive and non-committal, dull and lifeless in a colourless world, neutral, cold and insincere. It can be deceptive and two-faced.

Positive and Negative Traits of Silver

Positive keywords include: illumination, reflection, feminine power, balancing, calming, soothing, dignity, glamour, self-control, responsibility, organization, insight, wisdom, modern, sleek, hi-tech and scientific

Negative keywords include: dull, melancholy, lonely, lifeless and colourless, rigid, negative, neutral, indecisive, insincere, deceptive

Silver Represents:

Illumination: silver opens the mind and lights the way forward.

Reflection: it reflects back the energy sent out, whether that energy is positive or negative.

Prestige and Wealth: silver is seen as glamorous and sophisticated, and relates to the professional and corporate market.

Feminine Power: it is related to the femininity of the moon's energy, sensitive, emotional and fluid.

Effects of Silver:

Calming and soothing: its gentle and comforting qualities relate to the sensitivity of the moon's cycle of ebb and flow.

Lifeless: the colourless energy of silver can lead to negative feelings of coldness, indecision and being non-committal.

Dignified and responsible: silver is respectable and courteous, mature and determined, wise and organized.

Colours and Human Behaviour 11

The Colour Gray

The colour of detachment, indecision and compromise

The colour gray is an unemotional colour. It is detached, neutral, impartial and indecisive - the fence-sitter.

From a colour psychology perspective, gray is the colour of compromise - being neither black nor white, it is the transition between two non-colours. The closer gray gets to black, the more dramatic and mysterious it becomes. The closer it gets to silver or white, the more illuminating and lively it becomes.

Being both motionless and emotionless, gray is solid and stable, creating a sense of calm and composure, relief from a chaotic world.

The colour gray is subdued, quiet and reserved. It does not stimulate, energize, rejuvenate or excite.

In the meaning of colours, gray is conservative, boring, drab and depressing on the one hand and elegant and formal on the other, yet never glamorous.

Gray conforms - it is conventional, dependable and practical. It is a colour of maturity and responsibility, associated with the gray hair of old age. It will never be the centre of attention, the dynamic leader or the director - it is too safe and toned down.

Gray can stifle and depress energy but it is also the stable base from which the new and positive can come.

Gray is controlled. It has a steadying effect on other colours with which it comes into contact, toning down the stronger and brighter colours and illuminating the softer colours. Rarely is gray a perfect mix of black and white - it often has elements of other colours such as blue, green, pink, mauve or yellow within it which lift it and energize it.

Too much gray creates sadness and depression and a tendency to loneliness and isolation. Add some colour to change this.

Most people are indifferent to gray- it relates to the corporate worker in the gray suit - conservative, reliable, formal and independent and maybe boring.

Positive and Negative Traits of Gray

Positive keywords include: reliable, conservative, dignified, neutral, impartial, professional, mature, intelligent, classic, solid, stable, calming, reserved, elegant, formal and dependable

Negative keywords include: indecisive, non-emotional, indifferent, boring, sad, depressed, lifeless, lonely, isolated

Gray Represents:

Neutrality: gray is impartial and dispassionate, it doesn't take sides.

Compromise: it is the transition between two non-colours, neither black nor white. It takes the middle ground, neither one way nor the other.

Control: gray is reserved, quiet and conservative. It has a steadying effect on other colours around it.

Effects of Gray:

Indecision: Gray prefers to sit in the middle, not making a decision either way, sitting on the fence.

Detached: being non-emotional, gray can appear indifferent, uncaring, cold and aloof.

Depression: gray can stifle and depress energy but it is also the stable base from which the new and positive can come.

Unemotional: gray can appear neutral, disinterested, objective or impartial.

Variations of Gray

Light gray is soothing and calming. It enlightens saves and rescues those in difficult life situations.

Dark gray is conventional and constrained. It is serious and solemn, inflexible and strict. It relates to self-denial and self-discipline.

Colours and Human Behavior Part 10

The Colour Brown

The colour of security, protection and material wealth

The colour brown is a serious, down-to-earth colour signifying stability, structure and support.

Relating to the protection and support of the family unit, with a keen sense of duty and responsibility, brown takes its obligations seriously. It encourages a strong need for security and a sense of belonging, with family and friends being of utmost importance.

In the meaning of colours, brown is the colour of material security and the accumulation of material possessions.

The colour brown relates to quality in everything - a comfortable home, the best food and drink and loyal companionship. It is a colour of physical comfort, simplicity and quality. From a negative perspective it can also give the impression of cheapness and stinginess in certain circumstances.

Brown is friendly and approachable. It is loyal and trustworthy and dependable in a practical and realistic way.

In colour psychology, brown is honest, genuine and sincere. It relates to the hardworking, the industrious and reliable, with both feet planted firmly on the ground.

It is sensual, sensitive and warm, engulfing one in a feeling of calmness and comfort.

It is a practical and sensible colour which implies common sense. It hides the dirt!

The colour brown is associated with wholesome, natural and organic produce and anything related to the great outdoors, agriculture and farming.

Brown is a frugal colour - it is not associated with frivolity, excess or waste in any form. While it is materialistic, it values quality above all else, and everything in moderation.

Some browns can show a degree of sophistication or elegance, depending on other colours associated with the brown. For example, brown with a soft white or ivory can appear stylish and classy, although more casual than black with soft white or ivory.

Brown suppresses the emotions, creating a safe haven from the stresses of the outside world within which problems can be contemplated and solved.

Brown is a colour of structure, although by no means does it encourage perfectionism - rather it encourages orderliness and organization.

The colour brown gives reassurance. It is quietly confident but never the life of the party! Brown does not seek attention - it prefers to stay in the background, allowing other colours around it to shine.

Brown is solid with strength and maturity. It prefers to function in its own safe little world - it is not carefree and spontaneous and doesn't like surprises. It can be considered dull, boring and unexciting by many. In fact it is one of the least preferred colours in the western world, along with orange and yellow.

Brown is a predominant colour on the planet, along with green. Brown is comforting and stabilizing, while green is balancing and rejuvenating, just what we all need to help us deal with the stresses of modern life.

The psychological meaning of the colour brown can vary slightly depending on the colours which are mixed together to create the brown. Brown can be a combination of black, yellow, orange, red, grey, green, blue, pink and purple, and each of the colours in it will add a variation to the meaning.

Positive and Negative Traits of Brown

Positive keywords include: down-to-earth, wholesome, practical, approachable, friendly, stable, structured, supportive, comforting, reliable, protective, strength, quietly confident, sensual, sensitive, warm, reassured, honest, sincere, quality

Negative keywords include: dull, boring, frugal, materialistic, lack of humour, lack of sophistication, predictable, cheap and stingy

Brown Represents:

Stability: Reassuring and comforting, earthy and contained.

Structure: It encourages orderliness and organization.

Security: Safe and protective - a refuge from the chaos of the outside world and a sense of belonging.

Natural and wholesome: related to the earth, nutrition, health and goodness.

Effects of Brown:

Comforting: Sensual and warm, friendly and approachable, brown engulfs one in a feeling of calm and safety

Protective: creates a safe haven of support for family and friends

Materialistic: it encourages material security and the accumulation of possessions

Variations of Brown:

Light Brown: is friendly and approachable, sincere, honest and genuine

Dark brown: is strong yet sad and depressive, materialistic yet prudent

Tan: is ageless and timeless, straightforward, uncomplicated and natural

Ivory: is calming, yet encouraging, with a reserved style of simple sophistication

Beige: is practical and reliable, conservative, constant, unchanging and loyal

Colours and Human Behaviour Part 9

The Colour Magenta

The Colour of Universal Harmony & Emotional Balance

The colour magenta is one of universal harmony and emotional balance. It is spiritual yet practical, encouraging common sense and a balanced outlook on life.

The colour magenta helps to create harmony and balance in every aspect of life; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

A combination of red and violet, magenta contains the passion, power and energy of red, restrained by the introspection and quiet energy of violet.

Magenta influences our whole personal and spiritual development. It strengthens our intuition and psychic ability while assisting us to rise above the everyday dramas of our daily life to experience a greater level of awareness and knowledge.

This colour is an instrument of change and transformation; it helps to release old emotional patterns that prevent personal and spiritual development and aids us in moving forward.

Magenta is uplifting to our spirits during times of unhappiness, anger or frustration.

In the meaning of colours, magenta represents universal love at its highest level. It promotes compassion, kindness and cooperation and encourages a sense of self-respect and contentment in those who use it. Gentle and caring in its approach, it generates acceptance, tolerance, support and patience.

The colour magenta is a colour of cheerfulness, happiness, contentment and appreciation for what you have acquired and achieved. Most people feel more optimistic when in the company of magenta.

Magenta is the colour of the non-conformist, the free spirit. It pushes you to take responsibility for creating your own path in life and increases dream activity while assisting you in turning your ambitions and desires into reality.

A strong and inspiring colour, magenta can appear outrageous and shocking on one hand or innovative and imaginative on the other. It is creativity inspired by beauty.

Magenta is spontaneous and impulsive, yet resourceful and organized. It is invaluable in negotiating peace and calm in those who are at odds with one another.

From a negative perspective, magenta can promote depression and despair in some, and prevent others from dealing with challenges - it may be just too relaxing for introverts and the chronically depressed.

Being surrounded by too much magenta energy can generate arrogance and bossiness making us feel overwhelmed, irritated, anxious and intolerant.

An excess of magenta energy can be balanced by introducing green into your surroundings.

Positive and Negative Traits

Positive keywords include: universal harmony and love, emotional balance, helps our spirit soar, spiritual yet practical, encourages common sense, loving, compassionate, supportive and kind, imaginative, innovative, creative and artistic, non-conformist, negotiator

Negative keywords include: impulsive, domineering, impatient and intolerant, avoids challenges, too relaxing, can be bossy and demanding

Magenta Represents:

Universal harmony: at its highest level it generates love, caring, kindness and cooperation, encouraging a balanced and harmonious outlook on life.

Non-conformist: the colour of the free spirit, it does not like to be confined and contained.

Change and Transformation: helps to release old and outdated patterns of behaviour to inspire growth and personal development.

Effects of Magenta:

Emotional Balance: spiritual yet practical, it helps to create emotional, physical and spiritual balance.

Compassion: gentle and caring in its approach, it generates acceptance, tolerance, support and patience.

Inspiration: inspires cheerfulness and optimism, creativity and innovation, dream activity, positive change and negotiating skills.