The psychology of the blue color has a meaning that conveys the calm and paradisiacal of the seas, and the color of the choppy sea that destroys boats. It is the color of the clear sky that the lovers look at and the one that assumes in the deadly electrical storms.
Blue is an important color for our life on planet Earth. And it can even be important for dressmakers and designers because it never goes out of style. But is blue important for the psychological life of man? Or is it just one more color?
The psychology of color takes it as one of its thirteen central colors and there are compelling reasons for it. Also the history of art, optics and many other human disciplines have this color in a central position and many studies have been dedicated to it.
"You are blue, intensely blue, flower, Where did your dazzling color come from? James Montgomery.
The starting point: the symbolism of the blue color
In the psychology of color, the starting point is always the study of symbolism. Because the symbolic elements of a color are those that have surpassed the barriers of time and distances. So they are beyond any human interpretation.
They are characteristics that have been fixed through the generations, by associations mostly primitive. Our brain has learned to react to this color with specific emotions and ideas as this has helped us to survive as a species.
And now that modern life seems to depend little on our symbolic relationship to colors, these unconscious elements are still present every time we see a color. That means that these reactions go beyond our will and consciousness.
Blue, like any color, has many symbolic associations, some of them universal, others specific to different cultures. Let's start by knowing the main universal associations of the blue color:
- Authority (leadership, power, corporative, submission to power).
- Peace (calm, tranquility, passivity, relaxation, negotiation).
- Masculinity (strength, impetus, courage, courage, responsibility).
- Sports (activity, energy, competitiveness, physical endurance).
- Technology (progress, evolution, future, city, optimization).
- Honesty (credibility, verisimilitude, trust, integrity, true).
- Communication (clarity in words and thought, eloquence, intelligence).
For reasons like the above it is common to see images of executives, managers and people with high business positions wearing ties or blue elements. Blue is synonymous with bringing power, and also inspires to follow it submissively.
It is the same reason why it is a color used very often in political campaigns. It not only inspires authority, but also creates credibility and a sense of peace. If it is also used by a man, it promotes its more masculine traits, which society seeks.
A good amount of news media, such as newspapers, web portals and news programs, use the color blue because it makes any information more plausible and eloquent. Likewise, advertising is used to inspire more confidence in the products offered.
In sports and sports products the use of blue is common, because it carries a clear message of action, energy and endurance. It inspires people to give their best, to compete, to win and not to surrender.
And it is also the color flag of technology, computer development, social networks. It is intrinsically associated with modernity, to be up to date, dynamic and fast. Therefore, it is the color chosen by those who want to inspire vision of the future.
But, let us now look at some of the associations that are specific to specific cultures, but which also have an important psychological relationship for Western man. As for example, in Korea, Iran and Mexico is the color of the morning and in Thailand, the color of Friday.
Other associations of specific cultures with blue are:
- Opposite what happens in the rest of the world, in Belgium it is the color for girls, while pink is the color for children.
- In China it is associated with pornography, due to the term with which they are called"blue films".
- In Hinduism it is related to the Sadashiva deity and to the vishudha chakra (meaning"especially pure"). This chakra is responsible for improving communication, fluid thinking, maturity, independence , he Emotional control And sense of security.
- It is the color with which the Krishna deity is represented.
- In Eastern culture it is associated with immortality.
- For Native Americans the Cherokee tribe represents defeat and trouble.
- It is the color of Jesus Christ for Christian religions.
- In ancient Egyptian culture was the color of protection, used to ward off evil.
Negative associations of blue color
And the issue of symbolism could not be closed without talking about the negative associations that blue color, like any other, has. The most relevant of all would be their universal association with sadness and the Depression .
In fact, in English there is the expression" Feeling blue "(Literally"feel blue"), which means to feel sad. And there is also the blues , Musical genre that is characterized by its musical elements and melancholic and introspective narratives.
The image of a person sitting by the window, watching a rainy afternoon is an almost universal symbol of sadness, and is an image where the blue tones predominate. Thus, this color also inspires hopelessness, abulia, fatigue, emotional collapse, among other things.
But it is very important to remember that even negative emotions have their usefulness to the human, if administered correctly. Well-dosed sadness promotes states of deep reflection and the elaboration of a more realistic self-concept.
So surrounded by pastel shades or leaden blue, while it may have a depressant effect, can also help to see more objectively the difficulties of life. But it is necessary to do it with balance, in order not to fall into the inaction that the sadness promotes.
Another negative association of blue is related to being a symbol of masculinity. As well as recalling the most positive aspects of The masculine , Recalls its most negative elements, such as coldness, coarseness and The aggressiveness .
Aggressiveness is also related to the indomitable forces of nature, such as tsunamis, hurricanes and thunderstorms. Here the darker blues predominate, and they are variants of this color that can inspire fear in many people.
The 23 variations of blue and its psychological meaning
There are at least 111 varieties of blue that can distinguish the human eye. Some are more common as the navy blue, some more strange like the blue bell, and others are specific varieties of artists, like the blue of Yves Klein or the blue Chagall.
There are also specifics of a brand, such as Disney blue, or own a location, such as Copenhagen or China blue and, of course, has its chromatic version purer, which in this case is cyan.
Some brands invest high amounts of money to position themselves in the market not only through a logo or slogan, but also by means of a color. Thus, many of the existing logos use unique and patented blue varieties to distinguish themselves.
But far from all that range, few varieties of each color have an emotional and psychological significance for the collective. According to Eva Heller, creator of color psychology, there are 23 varieties of blue with specific psychological perceptions.
In its surveys of 2000 men and women of the most varied occupations and ages, blue stood out as the favorite color of the majority, and the one with the least detractors. That is why all their associations are positive or at least neutral.
The table below shows the results of these surveys on 23 blue varieties. There you will see what the psychological association and the emotional perception that produces in the majority of people. Watch them and think about what they make you feel and think about you.
Source: Psychological Colors .
From blue to iron blue. The Psychology of Blue
In interpersonal relationships
Blue is associated with sympathy, friendship, camaraderie, harmony and trust. Also with the credibility and honesty, necessary to establish stable and healthy social bonds. It is, therefore, an excellent color to promote better interpersonal relationships.
On the other hand, by its association with the celestial and the eternal, the blue represents what is desired to endure, with fidelity, with sacred bonds. From this point of view, blue promotes more stable and lasting relationships in families, couples, friends and colleagues.
Using blue in the common or dispersed spaces of a university or a company can promote synergy, teamwork , Fluid socialization. By having so many positive associations, it helps to get the best of each other during the interaction.
In creative and intellectual activities
Although blue is the color of the credible and plausible, by its very opposition to the earthly, it is associated with more fanciful ideas or more difficult realization, without arriving at the unreal. It is this, then, the color of the dreamers, the creators, the artists and inventors.
On the negative side, blue may be related to lies, but they are often naive or harmless lies. From that point of view, they are more related to fiction, to creation, to writing or theatrical performance or performance.
That is why, probably, for many plastic artists blue has been the central color of his work, or have had periods of exploration of this color. Like the famous blue period of Picasso . Also Kandinsky, Matisse and Yves Klein, among others, preferred this color.
If you are interested in writing literature, performing arts, practicing dance or any other artistic form, decorating the spaces with blue can be inspiring and leave Flow creativity . Likewise, if you need to solve a daily problem in a creative way.
This, because the blue also stimulates the intellectual aspects. Mostly attached to the target. It is also the color of the concentration . So it's ideal for students, researchers and people who need their skills to be at their best.
In marketing and advertising
It has been said that blue offers credibility to a product, so that using it as a logo or as a relevant part of packaging, can help sell it better. But that does not mean that any product or service agrees with the blue color.
In the case of seafood, the blue is excellent, not just to remember the middle of where they come from. Because blue is the coldest color, it gives a feeling of freshness and conservation, which comes in handy, especially if it is frozen products or where freshness is important.
It is also the color of communication, so it is ideal to market mobile phone equipment, internet, messaging applications, among others. As it is also the color of technology, it conveys the complete message:"it communicates you and it takes you to the future".
But not only speaks of technological blue, but also of science. That is why it is useful to the pharmaceutical industry. Because it conveys the message that behind the product, there are serious scientific studies that guarantee its reliability.
Case example, Viagra pill, which was taken very seriously despite acting on an area where it was easy to be taken to joke. And, in addition, being the color of the masculine, it helps more to convince the sector to which it is directed.
It is evident, then, that to market products directed to man, it is ideal to use blue, often mixed with black. Also for sports products, as they reflect the competitive aspects also related to the masculine gender.
In Internet, for the creation of web pages, it is ideal if it is a news portal, a social network, a forum, a page that promotes viral and current contents, among others. Combined with red, it helps to get attention quickly.
Finally, it is ideal for promoting dietary products, because blue is not the most atypical color in foods consumed by man. That is why it is ideal to decorate the dining rooms with blue elements, as it helps to feel less hungry and to eat smaller portions.
In peace and spirituality
Blue is the color of the sky, and next to white is the world symbol of peace. It is, therefore, in its clearest variants a color that invites to the recollection, to the exploration of the faith, to the tranquility and the calm.
It is an ideal color to establish communication with oneself, with the deeper parts of our life, be it spiritual, emotional or intellectual. It is a color that is synonymous with loneliness And a gentle life, a factor that can be used to meditate, pray, reflect, etc.
It is also perceived as the color of passivity, rest and relaxation. In dormitories, it can help to fall asleep or to rest of the daily agitation. It also helps to improve the intimacy and communication of the couple.
Because of its relation to water, it speaks of being allowed to flow and carry, a necessary aspect to achieve internal peace and conciliation. If white is the symbol of surrender to the enemy, blue is the symbol of reconciliation with it, of the definitive cessation of all hostility.
If your favorite color is blue, your personality is...
The personality Is an individual psychological construction, where our temperament, our character, our learning and more come together. While there are so many personalities as individuals, there are certain similarities among several of their manifestations.
In color psychology, personality is defined in terms of the color that each person considers as his favorite and least tolerated. In this section we will talk about the personality of people who like blue and those who hate it.
Of course, people who like blue will have several of the features already mentioned (communication skills, credibility, etc.). But let's look in more detail, ten aspects of the blue personality. If this is your favorite color, analyze the similarities.
- They are conservative, rigid, routine and / or old-fashioned people.
- They can be little impulsive and even little spontaneous.
- They have a high need for peace and harmony in their lives. Also of order and control.
- They may appear confident and self-controlled, but they may be hiding their most vulnerable aspects.
- They are sensitive to the needs of others and even more so with their close circle. But they may forget their own needs.
- He does not like to attract attention. They prefer to go unnoticed.
- They could be manipulative people, but they do not like conflict either.
- They prefer few sincere and lasting friendships that many less genuine.
- They are sentimental people with a taste for nostalgia. They are attracted to the past.
- They want to constantly expand their knowledge and wisdom.
But it is also possible that the blue color is last in your list of favorites. That also has personality implications. For example, it might be that you dislike the routine and you need continuous and intense Emotions in your life .
People who do not like blue do not feel comfortable with being the one who takes responsibility in a group or project. Or, when they are surrounded by lots of blue, they may feel depressed or sad.
In other words, several elements of the listings in the blue personality will not be present, or the opposing elements will be presented. Although it is necessary to take into account what color is your favorite, because it is common to find matches in several.
A blue wave zentangle to close
Zentangles or zen drawings, are pieces of drawings or nothing planned, abstract type, usually in black on a white background, which are created by a specific method. It consists of assembling several structured patterns (tangles) into a larger box or drawing.
It is considered an excellent technique of meditation , Whether you work with your creation from scratch, or coloring some already finished. Many coloring books for adults centered on zentangles complexes and their antistress use are currently marketed.
Drawing or coloring zentangles increases creativity, concentration or can promote specific emotions depending on the elements used. From the psychology of color, coloring zentangles with specific colors promotes the gifts associated with it.
So, as an exercise to finish this article, we propose to color the zentangle that accompanies this section, with varieties of blues to your liking. With this you can concentrate on some of the elements that have been discussed here.
As you will see, it is a rather simple zentangle, emulating a sea full of waves, and that allows you to explore features such as strength, impetus, courage. Or well, calm, relaxation, peace and spirituality. It all depends on how you approach it.