The Psychology of Color — Blue

Psychological studies have found that our perception of colors differs extensively. Colors can instill various moods and feelings in us. Various studies have shown that colors can have psychological effects on us. This article will focus on the color of blue.

Blue, like green, is often found in nature. Ocean or lake water and the daytime sky are the most clear examples of blue in nature. For this reason, it is not hard to understand why blue can be seen as a calm color of serenity.

On the other hand, blue can be seen to represent sadness or depression. The phrase feeling blue is representative of this. The blues genre of music emerged during a time of injustice against African-Americans in the 1870s. The original music focused on losses of love, jobs, and money. As you can see, blue is a rather paradoxical color promoting positive and negative psychological associations.

As we previously learned, red promotes aggressiveness and dominance. In comparison, blue showcases confidence and clear minded authority. This is one reason that the majority of police uniforms are blue. Blue’s ability to inspire trust when a person wears helps to create authority that is seen as objective and non-invasive.

Blue is often linked to creativity. A possible reason this takes place is due to the physiological responses evoked by the color. Blue lowers blood pressure and thus slows down heart rate. Under these conditions, the body becomes relaxed and under less stress. Therefore, it is easier to keep ideas churning.

Darker shades of blue are known to help improve the brain’s thought processes. Lighter shades have been shown to help concentration become improved.

Facts About Blue

• A University of Maryland study found that blue was the favorite color among 42% of men and 29% of women. In both genders, blue was the favorite color.
• Blue is universally known for its positive impacts on productivity. For this reason, many offices are painted blue to help promote stability, calmness, and increased morale.
• Though blue is a popular color among both men and women, it is viewed as non-appetizing. In fact, many weight loss plans recommend eating food off a blue plate. One reason for this could be that blue coloring in food, outside of blueberries or plums, can signal spoilage or poison.
• From a physiological standpoint, blue has been shown to lower body temperature and pulse rate.
• Given that blue is considered to be a non-threatening color, such as red, it is a great choice for businesses that want to project dependability, security, and peacefulness. Using blue in branding, advertising, and product design can help capture all the positive qualities of the color.

Blue in Marketing and Business

Read about the color psychology of red.

Read about the color psychology of orange.

Read about the color psychology of yellow.

Read about the color psychology of green.

Originally published at www.socialauramarketing.com.