COLORS: A Gateway to Personality

Color is a visual attribute of bodies distinct from their spatial characteristics, depending upon the spectral composition of wavelength. It is perceived by the retina and its associated neural mechanisms. Colors are identified, named, interpreted by our midbrain and cortex. Functional Psychology is the study of theories relating color choice to an individual’s personality. Color of choice is the one a person sympathizes most and must not be associated with clothes or automobiles. Below are the meanings of the colors parallel to the personality of an individual who chooses it.

1. Grey- Grey is neither colored, nor dark nor light and is neutral. Whoever chooses grey as a favorite color wants to wall everything off, remain uncommitted and uninvolved. He is unwilling to take part and insulates himself from direct participation. On the other hand, those who reject grey wants to encompass everything and feels he has the right to take part in anything around him.

2. Blue- Dark blue represents complete calm. Contemplation of this color can reduce blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate while self protective mechanisms work to recharge the organism; psychologically, the tendency to be sensitive and easily hurt increases. Blue means loyalty, contentment, contentment and gratification. Whoever chooses blue may need either emotional tranquility, peace, harmony, relaxation or ability to recuperate.

3. Green- means “will in operation”, perseverance, constancy and resistance to change. Whoever chooses green wants to increase certainty of his own value either from self-assertiveness or by acknowledgement he expects from others. This “green” behavior finds expression in gaining better conditions, wants his own opinions to prevail, and feels himself justified as a representative of basic and immutable principles. As a result, he tends to put himself on the pedestal and tends to moralize and lecture others.

4. Red- means desire, all forms of appetite and craving. Its expression is the urge to achieve results, to win success; it is hungrily desires all things which offer intensity of living and fullness of experience. It implies active doing, struggle, challenge, eroticism and enterprising activity. Red denotes impact or intensity of will.

5. Yellow- means cheerfulness, uninhibited expansiveness, change, relaxation and release from burdens, harassment and restrictions. Choosing yellow implies desire for release and hope for happiness. This expectation of adventure which offers enlightment and perfection is always directed to the future. Yellow presses forward towards the new, the modern, the developing and the unformed.

6. Violet- is a mixture of red and blue yet represents its won distinction. Mentally mature people normally prefer one of the basic colors; on the other hand, immature people tend to like blue. Violet means investigating or discovering a little further. It can also imply fantasy. The person who prefers violet is sensitive and appreciative yet, does not want to be involved in responsibility.

7. Brown- Some people who choose brown may have no place for security, comfort, company and fortune. Brown represents sensation as it applies to bodily senses and condition. Brown implies need for physical ease and sensuous contentment. The person may have insecurity, actual physical illness and atmosphere of conflict that the individual feels unable to cope. Safer environment should be provided for these people.

8. Black- is the negation of colors. Black represents absolute boundary beyond which life ceases. It means nothingness, extinction, renunciation, ultimate surrender and relinquishment and has strong effect to any color which the person chooses together with it. It emphasizes and enforces that color and therefore expressing its extremes. The person may be in revolt against fate and liable to act unwisely to this revolt.

The stated meanings of the basic colors above are widely used by psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists, educational specialists and criminologists. Those who choose a color made by the mixture of the ones above may possess the same characteristics implied by those colors.