HMN 2025: Consistent color-emotion correspondence for 128 years

Colors are thought to hold emotional which means. Moreover, many individuals agree that shade impacts the best way we expect and really feel. We can discover many sources that inform us to color our bed room partitions blue and inexperienced. Because these colours soothe us and chill out us. Other sources then inform us to encompass ourselves with vibrant yellow to cheer us up, or to put on purple to impress our viewers.

Unfortunately, there may be little scientific information to assist such concepts. Most proof means that this technique typically entails focusing on the colours of particular merchandise or medication and testing how these colours have an effect on shopper conduct. It is smart to take action, because the emotional which means of colours can range relying on the context. We naturally got here up with the instance of inexperienced. This shade will certainly really feel good on a scorching sunny day when strolling by a lush forest. But this shade is undoubtedly disgusting when discovered on a slice of cheesecake within the fridge. And certainly, shade concept in context (Elliott, 2015) argues that context determines the which means of shade. However, earlier than learning and describing the quite a few doable conditions, we thought it worthwhile to determine some form of normal for understanding the emotional which means of shade typically past particular contexts (Jonauskaite et al., 2019, 2020, 2024; Lam et al., 2020).

We examined this query by reviewing 128 years of analysis on color-emotion relationships (Jonauskate & More, 2025). Empirical psychology was correctly born within the early twentieth century. So we had been capable of finding the primary related article in Volume 7 (No. 1). American Journal of PsychologyPublished in 1895 (Major, 1895). The most up-to-date article on this evaluation was printed in 2022. Because by then we had ended information extraction. At this mark, we’ve printed over 4,000 articles associated to paint and emotion.

We now start the prolonged choice course of by wanting on the particulars of every study. We retained solely peer-reviewed research that had been printed in English, centered on normal color-emotion relationships, examined wholesome adults, and had been carried out below managed experimental situations. After this choice, we had been left with 132 credible, high-quality research.

Different methods to check the connection between shade and emotion

Throughout the research, colours had been offered in a wide range of methods. For probably the most half, the researchers confirmed individuals actual colours (80%) utilizing fastidiously managed shade patches or coloured objects on a calibrated laptop display. Others got here up with shade phrases like “purple” or “blue,” whereas others mixed the 2 approaches. On common, research used 10 colours when utilizing shade phrases and 32 shades when utilizing shade patches.

To measure emotional relationships, researchers forged an equally extensive web. Some research have centered on primary emotional points. Participants are requested whether or not they suppose a shade is constructive or unfavorable, calming or thrilling, highly effective or weak. Others requested about particular feelings equivalent to pleasure, anger, unhappiness, e.g. What colours do you affiliate with pleasure?). Others have even proven emotional facial and physique expressions and even measured the individuals’ physiological responses, equivalent to coronary heart charge and palm sweat.

Faced with these numerous measurements, we grouped the outcomes into shade classes. For instance, varied shades of blue had been all thought-about to signify “blue.” Regarding feelings, we saved the feelings utilized by the unique writer.

Key findings from the systematic evaluation

shade class

• purple It is related to excessive depth feelings, each constructive and unfavorable. It has to do with love and fervour, however it additionally has to do with anger and resentment. Red represents constantly excessive power and energy.
• yellow and orange Both are related to constructive, energetic feelings equivalent to pleasure, pleasure, and pleasure.
• Blue, inexperienced, cyan (known as turquoise, turquoise, turquoiseand so forth.) is It is related to leisure, consolation, and contentment. Interestingly, blue additionally has a melancholic facet and is usually related to unhappiness.
• pink It is a shade of positivity related to love, pleasure, and enjoyable.
• purple Is Purple is just not solely the colour of power and delight, however it is usually related to calmness and concern, displaying what number of and various the meanings of purple could be.
• Achromatic: White is a constructive shade related to peaceable feelings equivalent to hope and aid. Gray is related to low-energy unfavorable feelings equivalent to boredom and disappointment, whereas black is related to high-energy unfavorable feelings equivalent to concern and anger.

Beyond Color Category

Color traits equivalent to brightness and saturation had been equally, if no more, necessary for emotional associations. For instance, vivid colours evoked extra constructive feelings, whereas darkish colours evoked extra unfavorable feelings. These outcomes had been unbiased of shade, that’s, whether or not the shade was yellow, inexperienced, or purple. More saturated (extra vibrant) colours are then related to larger power feelings, whereas much less saturated (muted) colours are related to much less thrilling, much less energetic, and calmer feelings.

Another necessary discovery considerations the excellence between heat colours (purple, yellow, orange) and funky colours (blue, inexperienced). Both teams evoked constructive feelings, however heat colours had been related to energetic and intense feelings, and funky colours had been related to calm and calm feelings.

One shade – many feelings and one emotion – many colours

All these findings indicate that the color-emotion relationship is many-to-many. That is, the identical shade can have a number of emotional congruences, and the identical emotion could be related to a number of colours. Therefore, the relationships reported aren’t absolute guidelines, however they do convey the emotional which means that shade can convey.

So can we really feel shade?

We discovered stunning consistency in color-emotion relationships throughout completely different analysis strategies, many years, and completely different cultures. Whether researchers confirmed individuals coloured patches, used shade phrases, or measured feelings by questionnaires, faces, or physiological responses, related patterns emerged time and again.

Consistent findings within the literature seemingly point out a shared understanding of color-emotion relationships throughout geographic and linguistic boundaries (see additionally our study printed in 30 nations). Jonauskaite et al., 2020). On the constructive facet, this consistency makes shade a robust device for facilitating emotional communication. Color can improve which means. On a cautious observe, we shouldn’t be fooled into pondering that this consistency implies an emotional expertise.

Just as a result of individuals constantly affiliate colours with feelings doesn’t suggest the colours really make us really feel these feelings. Think about it. We could affiliate blue with calmness or yellow with happiness. However, merely taking a look at a blue or yellow wall doesn’t change our emotional state. These color-emotion associations exist in our minds as realized associations slightly than direct trigger and impact. Imagine how overwhelming it will be to stroll by a flashy shopping center if colours straight triggered feelings. We will consistently expertise a whirlwind of various feelings for each shade we see. Do you discover this query as fascinating as we do? Read earlier weblog posts “Red is related to love, however can we really really feel it?”

This publish is from a scientific paper “do Can you are feeling the colour? A scientific evaluation of 128 years of psychological analysis linking shade and emotion.“Published in Psychology Bulletin and Review January 2025.