ABSTRACT

For our student-generated experiment, we decided to test the effects of color on the
human psyche. The experimenters narrowed down questions unto experiment to discover
the effects of six different colors on the participant's state of mind, disposition or feeling.
We chose black, white, red, yellow, blue and green based on other research and how
common they are in our environment.

Our intention is to use the answers of the respondents as an indication of a particular

mood. We anticipated that each of the six colors produces a specific mood, and from our
tests we interpreted the general reaction associated to each color. We hope to find
conclusive results that will confirm or disprove our hypothesis that colors have a distinct
impact upon the human psyche.

By pulling together information from this study, the experimenters have devised a series
of controlled tests, using the colors red, yellow, green, blue, black, and white. The
experimenters predicted the following results: RED provoked surprise and intense
feelings, YELLOW caused feelings of liveliness and enthusiasm, GREEN caused feelings
of happiness and calmness, BLUE caused feelings of tranquility, BLACK caused feelings
of unhappiness, and WHITE will cause feelings of passivity.
INTRODUCTION

Knowledge of the link between colors and psyche can be put to use in many practical
situations. For instance, the most calming colors might be used to decorate an emergency
room or prison cell, while colors that cause elation can be used in a wedding or festival.
Would it be useful to know which colors soothe, excite, agitate, and depress when
designing a daycare, or someone's bedroom? We hope that our tests will provide data to
further educate us in these matters.

To help us understand the nature of mood, "Moods as Sources of Stimulation:

Relationships Between Personality and Desired Mood States," by Cheryl L. Rusting, and
Randy J. Larsen will be utilized. Their studies implement a system of measuring the
activation of high to low energy words. For instance, the word "intense" was found to be
a "high activation" word, while the word "tranquil" was monitored as a "low activation"
word. We plan to extend this system of testing by taking the words Rusting and Larsen
used, and associating them with our six chosen colors. For instance, the color red might
be found to be associated with the word "intense," thus passing on the attribute of high
activation to the color as well as the word. By this practice we can measure energy levels
in reference to color, and therefore draw parallels to mood.

The "Association of Colors with Warning Signal Words," by J.L. Griffith and S. David
Leonard, conducted experiments to measure the human reaction towards different colors
in terms of their severity. For instance, red was gaged as "severe," yellow was "minor,"
and blue was "none." The higher the severity, the more evident the color would be in a
warning sign. We chose to use some of the colors from Griffith's and Leonard's studies
because we were interested in the relationship between the severity of a color and the
mood it may cause.

"Task Type, Posters, and Workspace Color on Mood, Satisfaction, and Performance," by
Nancy J. Stone and Anthony J. English dealt with the effect of decoration of the
workplace and surroundings on the mood. This helped us to decide how to design our
testing site. For example, their studies found that color had a significant effect on the
overall "pleasantness" of the workspace.

In F.J. Francis' article, "Quality as Influenced by Color," the relationships between food
and color were explored. If people can associate food with different colors, as suggested
by Francis, they might relate other objects to colors as well. This serves as a guide to our
word association tests.

Our final article, "Color Meaning and Context: Comparisons of Semantic Ratings of
Colors on Samples and Objects," by Charles Taft, similarly illustrates the association
between specific colors, adjectives, and objects. We took this article in consideration
when constructing our hypothesis, as in provided information for an educated guess.
METHODOLOGY

Objectives:

To be able to test the effect of color on human psyche and personality. Using the
colors blue, red, white, yellow, green and black, the experimenters try to discover the
effects of these six different colors on the participant's state of mind, disposition or
feeling. These colors were selected because they common to our environment.

Subjects:
The selected subjects were students of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, of
different college levels. Ten (10) females and ten (10) males were asked to do the activity.

Hypothesized Results:

The experimenters intended to use two tests in hope that they can create a pattern
that will create a pattern they can draw conclusions from. In the theory, the experimenters
expected RED to induce a highly activated mood and BLUE induces an inactive but a
pleasant mood. BLACK represents an unpleasant and active mood. GREEN and
YELLOW could both be pleasant, but we suspect that yellow will also induce an active
mood, versus GREEN, which will be inactive. WHITE is a neutral color, therefore we are
unsure of the mood it will induce. Our idea is that it will be split between the negative
and positive moods.

RED – astonished, surprised and intense, enthusiastic, lively

YELLOW – excited, elated, happy, cheerful, glad, pleasant, delightful
GREEN – calm, at ease serene, content
BLUE – quiet, tranquil, still, deep, droopy, tired, bored, drowsy, sluggish
WHITE – passive, idle, jittered, annoyed
BLACK – dull, unhappy, miserable, sad, gloomy, nervous, fearful, anxious

Procedures:
EXPERIMENT A:

The experimenters prepared, on a folder, 12 samples of moods or feelings and a

set of colored paper strips of each of the 6 colors being tested. Each respondent was
asked to put the designated colored paper strips on the pockets containing the set of
“feelings or moods” that each color is associated with.
The set of feelings or moods were:

1. Surprised
2. Serene
3. Enthusiasm
4. Contented
5. Intense
6. Passive
7. Drowsy
8. Nervous
9. Lively
10. Idle
11. Quiet
12. Melancholic

EXPERIMENT B:
 The experimenters prepared a set of questions asking for a color that corresponds
with the situations given. We had 20 subjects, (10 females, 10 males) that took part.
We anticipated that each of these experiences reflected a certain state of mind or
feeling. Therefore, the participant will most likely to respond with the color we’ve
assigned to the questions/situations.

Situations:
1. Death of a family member
2. Killing time by sitting
3. Scored 100% in the final exam
4. Sleeping
5. Excited watching a cheering competition
6. Having a picnic with your family in Tagaytay

DATA SHEET: EXPERIMENT A

Direction:

1. Surprised -
2. Serene -
3. Enthusiasm -
4. Contented -
5. Intense -
6. Passive -
7. Drowsy -
8. Nervous -
9. Lively -
10. Idle -
11. Quiet -
12. Melancholic –

Color Choices:
RED
BLUE
YELLOW
GREEN
WHITE
BLACK

DATA SHEET: EXPERIMENT B

Direction:

1. Death of a family member -

2. Killing time by sitting -
3. Scored 100% in the final exam -
4. Sleeping -
5. Excited watching a cheering competition -
6. Having a picnic with your family in Tagaytay –

Color Choices:
RED
BLUE
YELLOW
GREEN
WHITE
BLACK

CONCLUSIONS:
 The experimenters were able to discover the effects of six different colors on the
participant's state of mind, disposition or feeling. They chose black, white, red, yellow,
blue and green based on other research and how common they are in our environment.
Based on the experiments done and the answers of the respondents, the experimenters
predicted and as well, proved the following results: RED provoked surprise and intense
feelings, YELLOW caused feelings of liveliness and enthusiasm, GREEN caused feelings
of happiness and calmness, BLUE caused feelings of tranquility, BLACK caused feelings
of unhappiness, and WHITE will cause feelings of passivity.

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

 Intramuros, Manila

The Effect of Colors on an Individual’s State

of Mind, Disposition or Feeling

Presented by:
Garcia, Marija Jimmia Jeannefaith G.
III – 2 BS Psychology

Presented to:
Ms. Sarmiento
Experimental Psychology

29 September 2007