Gray color - Psychology and the meaning of color - All materials

Each color scheme in human life has its own special meaning and effect. What does white mean in psychology? It symbolizes purity of thoughts, the path to light, devotion to the idea.

In Christian stories, angels and saints appear in white robes. During baptisms and weddings, snow-white dresses signify innocence and the beginning of a new period in life. At the funeral, the deceased was wrapped in a shroud made of light-colored fabric to help the soul find its way to another world.

In ancient times, white was considered a symbol of chosenness; priests and rulers of Rome and Egypt wore its shades. The lower classes had to work hard to earn food, and it was difficult not to get dirty, so darker colors were used. Some more interesting facts:

The color of snow and clouds has long signified the divine principle and was considered a symbol of peace. The negotiations were held under the protection of a white flag, which implied reconciliation and an end to hostilities.
Light-colored animals are still considered sacred in different countries today. Such as cow, horse, Chinese tiger.
In Russia, white doves are released at weddings and holidays as a sign of peace and renewal.
In China, Japan and some African countries, the color is considered mourning; relatives of the deceased dress in it, and brides are usually dressed in a red dress. In European countries, black is traditionally considered the color of mourning.

In nature, it delights, enchants, and is associated with cold, snow, ice and frost.

The symbolism of red in the past and present

What does the color red symbolize in psychology? It is most often chosen by the person who is ready to achieve his goal at any cost. He is also distinguished by his independence from outside opinions. It is not for nothing that rulers often chose this shade for their robes. Red was a component of such items as the royal robe and Monomakh's hat, and in some countries only rulers were allowed to wear shoes of this color.

Once upon a time, the royal signature was applied with crimson ink. Today this tradition has transformed into a red pen for teachers.

In addition, a large amount of red can be found in heraldry. It would not be a mistake to consider it the main one, because this color is present on almost every coat of arms. Members of the clan whose banner contains this color usually talk about themselves as strong people who are ready to fight for their rights.

Content

1 Basic values:
2 Egypt
3 Antiquity
4 China
5 Mesoamerica
6 South America
7 Christianity
8 Alchemy
9 Freemasonry
10 Heraldry
11 Emblems
12 Psychology
13 Ad vocem
14 Ad notanda
15 Notes and comments

Symbolism of red in Russia

Many will also be interested in the answer to the question of what the color red symbolizes in Russia. The domestic tricolor appeared more than three centuries ago. Officially, Emperor Peter I is considered his “father.” The red color then symbolized sovereignty. White symbolized freedom, and blue symbolized the Mother of God.

Currently, the symbolism of color has changed somewhat. White means peace and purity, blue means fidelity. The red color on the flag symbolizes energy, strength, as well as the blood of the soldiers that was shed for the Motherland.

The effect of white color

The color white has a positive effect on the mind and body : it promotes clarity of thinking, evokes feelings of fresh start and renewal, clears clutter in thoughts and actions, and helps cope with difficulties. White is the equivalent of daylight. It has an effect on the central nervous system, speeding up life processes, evening out mood, relieving tension, and helping to cope with stiffness. White calms all anxiety and irritation. It also inspires, brightens, increases strength and energy, and promotes the renewal of all colors in the body.

Too much white, due to its brightness, can cause headaches. In the case of extremely bright light, the white color can even be blinding. For example, if you look at the snow on a very sunny winter day.

White gemstones are believed to promote new beginnings by removing preconceptions and prejudices from the mind, helping to see innocence in others, silencing the inner critic, clearing thinking, eliminating emotional clutter.

Story

Red is one of the most attractive colors throughout human history. On the other hand, its meaning is twofold. For primitive man, this color meant, first of all, blood. Therefore, it could have both a positive meaning (for example, talking about the birth of a new life) and a negative one (being a sign of injury).

In ancient times, the color red was used to ward off evil spirits. The faces of warriors were painted with red paint; it was used to make amulets. Later beliefs also retained the ambivalence of this shade. For example, in ancient India, red symbolized motherhood. In Ancient Rome - the god of war.

China[edit]

During the Zhou Dynasty (1050-256 BC) it was considered a sacred, life-giving color. The traditional color of the god of happiness, who gives wealth. As a result, the red flags of communist China are perceived as a traditional symbol.

The combination of red and green, perceived in Europe as something rude and aggressive, in China had an expressive meaning of vitality, for example, in connection with the “green stockings and red skirt” of young girls or red lamps and green grapes in a hotel.

“Red-faced” refers to men who were overworked in marital love and who, apparently, were destined for an early death.

What does red mean in the Olympic flag?

The well-known emblem first appeared in 1913. It was proposed by P. Coubertin. Five rings are depicted on a white background, which represent a symbol of friendship between athletes from different continents. At first it was believed that at least one of the shades of these rings could be found in the flag of each country. Later, another explanation arose - the colors are symbols of different continents: blue - Europe, yellow - Asia, black - Africa, green - Australia. The red ring in the Olympic emblem symbolizes America.

Cloth

Many fashionistas and fashionistas are eager to find out what the color gray means in clothes. It is safe to say that this is the most versatile and stylish color in the entire palette. In order not to look like a “gray mouse” (although shades of gray are often combined very stylishly), you can combine this color with any palette. It is an excellent backdrop for any bright elements and decorations. The advantage is also a softer effect and ease of perception (for example, compared to black). It will be able to emphasize a person’s individuality and make his image stylish and sophisticated.

Interior

As for interior design, psychologists do not recommend using it as the main tone. Small inclusions of this shade have a good effect on performance. What the color red symbolizes - energy, strength, passion - takes on a slightly different meaning in matters of interior design. After all, despite all the energy, this color can provoke aggression. It is impossible to stay in a room completely decorated in red tones for a long time. This provokes exhaustion and fatigue.

Characteristics of people who prefer gray color

Those who love gray color have a calm, balanced character. They are confident in their abilities, so they do not seek to prove anything to anyone. In appearance, these people may seem like “gray mice,” but this is just a mistaken opinion. Lovers of gray shades have incredible strength and determination. By nature, they are introverts who prefer solitude and do not talk about their own thoughts. These people can be called distrustful, because they try to find hidden meaning and catch in everything. The main disadvantage can be considered a tendency to melancholy and depression; they often do not strive for self-realization in society.

The role of red in the life of the British

Many will also be interested in information about the role of this shade in the life of Foggy Albion, about what the color red symbolizes on English territory. Napoleon Bonaparte himself, who dreamed of conquering England all his life, said with annoyance: “Red is the color of England. He's everywhere here, I can't stand him."

One of the traditional emblems of England is the red rose. It is also called the Tudor Rose or the Union Rose. It represents the unification of York and Lancaster. These royal dynasties were in a state of confrontation for three decades. Their feud, the purpose of which was to conquer the English throne, was called the War of the Scarlet and White Roses.

The national flag of England is a panel on which the red cross of St. George, who is the patron saint of the country, is depicted - this is what the red color symbolizes. In English, you can create many expressions mentioning it. For example, the phrase “red letter day” means a holiday. For the British, the color red embodies vitality, celebration, joy, energy and youth. In the perception of this people, this shade evokes exclusively positive associations.

Double-decker red buses in England were originally painted this color not for beauty, but so as not to get lost in the fog. Indeed, in the past, due to the work of factories and factories, a cloud of smog enveloped cities almost all year round. It also mixed with smoke from the chimneys of houses that were heated with coal in those days. Guests of London always pay attention to the red telephone booths on the streets of the city. Flower beds with flowers of this shade are also striking.

Unusuality, sacredness - the meaning of white

Where can a person see white in wildlife? Fish in the water and birds in the sky, flowers and gray hair of old people, milk and flour. We have such a rather unusual and rare list. White predators, like their white victims, are doomed to death: the former cannot get closer to the prey, and the latter are defiantly noticeable against the backdrop of natural colors. (Here we are not talking about the inhabitants of the North.) Albino animals, due to their rarity, have been considered divine, miraculous, and supernatural in all centuries.

But this color is common in inanimate nature: white clouds float across the sky, white fog spreads along the ground, a white waterfall sparkles with splashes, white caps of waves run across the sea. The white peaks of the mountains rise above the world, but the mistress of the night, the moon, walks even higher in the sky.

The white color stood out against the general background as white spots, indicating the unusualness of objects or the inexplicability of phenomena. Therefore, our ancestors associated it with something inanimate or divine.

Therefore, in some cultures, white is the color of royalty, or religious figures. There they are depicted in paintings as angels - symbolically dressed in white or emitting a white radiance.

Red lovers – what are they like?

Knowing what the color red symbolizes will help you understand people. The unconscious choice of color can tell a lot about a person. For example, such conclusions can be drawn based on preferences in the colors of a personal car, laptop, clothing or interior details. Psychologists believe that such people are optimists and are distinguished by their love of life. However, those who choose red also have a weak point - their excessive gullibility. However, having made mistakes in people several times, they become more cautious, and sometimes even picky about every word of their interlocutor. However, if you ask such a person a question about whether he is satisfied with life, he will answer that he is happy, despite any troubles.

What does the color red symbolize in a person’s appearance? He talks about his inner desire for change. Most likely, he was quite tired of the monotonous and monotonous life. A craving for this color can also arise during puberty, which is characterized by instability of mental processes, desire for risk, and youthful maximalism.

Also, psychologists put into a separate category those people who do not like the color red without good reason. This often happens due to the depletion of a person’s internal resources. This is also evidenced by cases that occurred with prisoners of war. They had a negative attitude towards any shades of red.

Dislike for this color is also characteristic of those people who are tired of constant conflicts with others and are afraid of any quarrels. Such persons suffer from a lack of self-confidence; subconsciously they seek peace and quiet.

Positive and negative characteristics

The positive aspects of gray are the following characteristics:

restraint;
justice;
spiritual growth;
nobility;
intelligence;
unobtrusiveness;
sophistication;
imperiousness.

Among the negative values of gray, the following characteristics are distinguished:

boredom;
loneliness;
lack of desire to stand out from the crowd (“gray mouse”);
dullness;
primitiveness (lack of gray matter in the brain);
low origin (“gray peasant” - commoner).

There is also the expression “gray cardinal”, which means hidden power. It came from Cardinal Richelieu, who owned all the power in France. This version was invented for ordinary people, since true power was in the hands of another person - the monk Joseph. He always wore a gray cassock, which became the reason to call him the eminence grise. Thus, we can guess what the color gray in power means. It has both positive (overt strength, power) and negative meaning (cunning, threat).

Test

To understand yourself, experts recommend using a color test. To do this, you need to quickly decide on your favorite and least favorite colors. They are offered in a list of twelve options. These are black, blue, brown, green, grey, orange, pink, purple, red, turquoise, white and yellow.

The breakdown of characteristics is as follows:

black – confidence, firmness, determination, authoritarianism;
blue – conservatism, calmness, love of comfort, anxiety;
brown – ambition, determination, reliability, desire for success;
green – desire for recognition, authority, isolation, tactlessness;
gray – reliability, intelligence, desire for recognition, calmness;
orange – sociability, sociability, friendliness, impulsiveness;
pink – sensitivity, passion, self-centeredness, obsession;
purple – creativity, intellectuality, spirituality, restlessness;
red – confidence, determination, passion, temper;
turquoise – self-esteem, renewal, relaxation;
white – purity, self-expression, desire to experiment, generation;
yellow – optimism, energy, activity, thirst for change.

Gray has its most positive characteristics when used sparingly and tastefully. It can significantly improve a person’s life if you choose clothes and decorate your home with full responsibility.

Characteristics of people who do not accept the color gray

Those people for whom gray is not a favorite color have an active temperament. They hate routine, cannot sit still for long, and strive for change and renewal. These people are very sociable, easily make contact, and make new acquaintances. They ignore punctuality, strict schedules and restrictions that are not for them. Enemies of gray color strive for lightness, independence, constant emotions and impressions. It is difficult for them to keep themselves within limits and follow norms of behavior; they are extravagant and creative. Conservatism and stagnation are not for them.