Surely more than once in your life you have been asked about your favorite color. And although sometimes this question is merely informative, with the intention of giving you a gift or knowing what color you choose for clothes, on other occasions the question can go further. Colors can define your mood, your feelings or even your intelligence.
In fact, if we enter the world of psychology, for it the simple fact of choosing one color instead of another is closely related to emotions and some mental processes, as suggested by research such as that of ‘Perceptual similarities (or differences) between colors and emotions: An empirical investigation with the image-based visual corpus analysis approach‘.
Psychologists agree: “Preferring paper shopping lists instead of mobile phones activates connectivity patterns in the brain that the keyboard does not generate”
Psychology affirms that those who grew up in the 60s and 70s developed mental strengths that are being lost due to current technology
Based on these studies, therefore, we can know that colors can have an impact on our mood, our memory or the way we organize our feelings. In this way, the colors blue, purple and black are those that are most related to creativity and introspection.
How colors influence concentration and performance
The color blue is usually associated with calm, emotional stability and mental clarity, fundamental aspects in tasks that require sustained attention. However, beyond this general idea, research indicates that bluish tones are less linked to intense emotions and more related to rationality and analytical thinking.
This helps to understand why people who prefer this color tend to perform better in environments that require concentration and precision. In fact, spaces such as offices, libraries or educational centers frequently use blue to promote a calmer and more productive environment.
In contrast, purple is associated with creativity, imagination and innovation. These types of hues stimulate less linear thinking, which can be useful in activities that require new ideas or different solutions. Environments with cold colors also tend to reduce emotional overload, thus facilitating more complex mental processes.
What science says about colors and emotions
Black, for its part, is related to sobriety, elegance and discretion, but also with more negative emotions such as sadness or fear. According to recent studies, this color stands out for its ability to represent intense emotions and differentiate them more clearly than other tones.
Furthermore, research on the relationship between color and emotion shows that not all colors influence in the same way: some, such as red or yellow, have a greater emotional connection, while others, such as blue, play a more cognitive than emotional role.
In any case, experts warn that, although colors can influence how we think or feel, they do not determine intelligence or performance on their own. The preference for certain colors is highly conditioned by cultural, personal and contextual factors, so it cannot be interpreted as a reliable test of intellectual level.