Color Psychology: Effects of Perceiving Color on Psychological Functioning in Humans
Review of theory and empirical evidence for how color perception affects emotion, cognition, and behavior.
Citation
Elliot, A. J., & Maier, M. A. (2014). Color Psychology: Effects of Perceiving Color on Psychological Functioning in Humans. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 95–120.
Method
Literature review.
Claims used
- Color can carry important meaning and affect emotion, cognition, and behavior.
- The field is still developing; boundary conditions and real-world generalizability must be studied before strong recommendations are justified.
Extracted principles
- Bright, low-saturation backgroundsNot tested
Use light, low-saturation colors on large surfaces: lightness tends to increase pleasantness while saturation primarily increases arousal.
Color