Colors affect us more than we think. Let's talk about what it means

1. Bright colors train memory

When a person is focused on certain stimuli, there is a higher chance that they will get into long-term memory. And the colors are very eye catching. By this rule enjoy in marketing and sales. The buyer will remember colorful and catchy ads rather than black and white ones, and the client will better concentrate on a bright presentation, and not on boring text slides.

There is an opinionthat warm colors - yellow, red and orange - are more memory-influencing than, for example, brown or gray. Perhaps it is not the colors themselves that cause the effect, but feelingsthat arise when looking at them. For example, red is a symbol of passion, strength, aggression, while gray cannot boast of such vivid associations. At the same time, not only the shade itself is important for memorization, but also high contrast. It could be causewhy well-known companies are so popular with logos with bright text on a neutral background.

The feature of color to stick in memory can help while studying. For example, in order to quickly fix foreign words in your head, it is better to write them down on yellow stickers, not white ones. And important terms in the abstract should be underlined with a contrasting highlighter. By the way, the use of color marks simplifies reading even for people with dyslexia.

2. Colorful interior boosts productivity

In a colored interior, people work more efficiently. To this conclusion in 2018 came a group of scientists, having analyzed 40 different studies on this topic. Moreover, it turned out that white walls can increase the number of errors, and the choice of specific “helping” shades depends on the type of work. According to some, red allows it is better to solve cognitive tasks, and blue is better for creative ones.

However, before repainting the wallpaper, it is important to take into account subjective perception. So, some people are red indoors stimulateswhile others are distracting and even annoying. Therefore, for starters, it is better to dilute the neutral interior with small bright splashes. For example, get red diary or hang a colorful poster on the wall.

3. The colors of dishes and utensils affect appetite

You have probably heard that the color of the dishes can affect the portion size. To test this, scientists suggested women have the same lunch - pasta with tomato sauce and soft drinks. Participants who were given neutral white plates ate less. And for those who used black and red, appetite and it really was better.

The unnatural color of food can generally discourage the desire to eat. Scientists figured this out half a century ago. They suggested study participants an unusual dinner: blue steak, red peas and green fries. The meal began under dim lighting to hide the true color of the dishes. When the room became light, the "inappropriate" food coloring caused a decrease in appetite and even nausea in some participants. Modern research confirms that food of an unfamiliar color may seem less attractive. For example, images of cookies in red, blue, and black and white. look not as alluring as the usual yellow.

4. The shade of clothes creates the first impression

The color of the clothes paid attention in the distant past. For example, the laws of medieval Europe allowed only the nobility to wear purple things, the dye for which was extracted from sea mollusks. And in China it's yellow chose emperors - it symbolized power and prosperity. Different shades could emphasize a person's place in the social hierarchy and his financial position.

In modern culture, color is still an important means of communication. For example, red bind with success in martial arts, team sports and computer games. So English football teams, whose members wore red uniforms, won more often than others. Scientists suggest that the bright shade somehow worsened the game of opponents.

And yet, you should not bet only on color if you choose an image for an important event - the subjective perception of the interlocutor can outweigh. Take, for example, black. It is believed that he raises attractiveness in the eyes of the opposite sex, but in some situations can cause a negative reaction. Let's say criminal suspects in dark clothes perceived more guilty than in the light.

5. Color helps to recognize mental problems

The colors in which a person describes different emotions can correlate with mental disorders. For example, patients with anxiety or depression more often consider your mood is grey. And healthy people, as a rule, do not associate a psychological state with any shade or choose yellow. Saturation also matters. Yes, people with anxiety prefer dark blue, and healthy - light.

Color can be analyzed within art therapy - direction in psychotherapy, which helps people to better understand themselves, using creative techniques. Patients create collages, draw, photograph, and then discuss the work with a specialist. To art therapy resortto reduce symptoms of depression, stimulate mental activity in patients with dementia, reduce pain in a serious diagnosis.

Some elements art therapy can be added to everyday life. For example, coloring helps relieve stress - a person focuses on choosing shades and temporarily disconnects from external experiences.