Psychological color effects

Abstract

Colors may alter people’s percepts and may affect how they feel. Colors with their psychological effects are most studied under three main areas: advancing and receding/retreating colors, in relation to temperature (warm vs. cool) and in relation to emotions. Advancing and receding/retreating colors are related with visual perception where people tend to see some colors as if they are closer than they actually are or vice versa. The effect of color on warmth perception is related with feeling warm, which could be a physical or sensorial effect. In this case, some colors may increase or decrease the feeling of warmth, although the actual physical temperature remains the same. In relation to emotion, people’s emotions may alter when they are exposed to different colors. There may be even more ways that colors may effect percepts and emotions, but the most studied three topics will be expanded in this overview.