Did you know that each color has its own meaning? Not only do they serve to give life and movement to every aspect of our lives, to define an object or as pigments in paints and makeup. Color is closely related to the feelings and emotions we have and in fact, we can make use of it on different occasions depending on the mood that governs us.
That is why, when you see a painting or certain shades somewhere they generate one or several emotions in particular, while, according to your mood you can lean towards a color and even describe your mood according to it. One of the colors that has caused the most intrigue and controversy is the color black, as its meaning has changed over time and the evolution of cultures. But we bet you’ll be surprised with what psychology has to say about this color.
Do you still find it hard to believe but it intrigues you? Then don’t miss the following article where we will talk about the psychology of color and what black represents according to psychology..
What is color psychology?
But first let’s start by getting to know the psychology of color. Which is the field of study within the psychological sciences that is dedicated to studying and analyzing the effects that colors have on people’s behavior, as well as the perception of these in relation to their environment and how they express it on the outside. It is widely used to study, know and understand more about the world of arts and aesthetics, so the psychology of color is widely used in the areas of marketing and advertising.
Have you ever wondered what inspired an artist to make a painting so colorful or so opaque? Or the reason for the colors that brand logos have? That’s because each color and each combination of them generates a different impression in us, from joy to generate appetite.from joy to appetite. Therefore, since ancient times people have devoted themselves to study the influences that colors have on the way we see the world and what attracts us to it.
Meaning of the color black according to psychology
Before we begin to explain the meaning of the color black, take a few seconds to think about the best way you yourself would describe this color. You may have leaned towards darkness or negativity, after all black is just the absence of light and has traditionally been linked to sad feelings, depression and even death. In other words, nothing good can represent this color.
But what if I told you that in psychology this is not the case? Although, also in the field of study of human behavior, the color black is conceived as a representative color of darkness, it does not have to do entirely with the unfavorable, but has an impression of enigmatic and abundance. So we can say that this color refers to the mystery of the unknown, which generates enthusiasm and fear in equal measure.
In addition, with the passage of time it has been given other meanings, such as elegance, authority, authority, elegance, authority, authority, authority, authority, authority, authority, authority, authority, authority, authority, authority. elegance, authority, individualism, conservatism, growth and of course, mysticism.. Which we will talk about later.
Historical curiosities of the color black
As we just mentioned, below we will talk about some important facts that have changed people’s perception of the color black throughout history and cultures.
1. The negative impact of black
This belief that the color black detracts from the beauty or purity of other colors started from the position of this color as a dividing line between good and evil. That we can find described in the stories of genesis and the creation of the world in the book of the Bible:
¨In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, it was deformed and void and darkness covered the Abyss, but the Spirit of God reigned over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light”. And there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness ‘night…¨
Therefore, white represents all that is right, since it is the color of light, while black alludes to evil, since it is the color of darkness. Thus, every time black was combined with other colors, the latter lost their original essence. Due to its capacity of absorption and non-reflection.
2. The color black in ancient cultures
On the complete opposite side, we have the beliefs that the ancient Egyptians had with the color black. It represented the essence of growth, abundance and fertility. While, for the Japanese, since the beginning of their millenary culture, this color has been seen as a symbolization of femininity and therefore, of beauty. This is because, for them, it is linked to youth and eternity.
3. Black is the greatest cry of fashion
The world of fashion and aesthetics has its own language and therefore, its own beliefs and in the case of the color black. It represents nothing more and nothing less than elegance, classic and ethereal. For fashion experts, there is no way to go wrong if you wear a black garment, as it is very flattering for any body type, age and for any occasion.
How many black garments do you have in your closet?
4. The rebelliousness of black
Where is it most common to see black garments? Yes, in young people who profess to be rebellious, spontaneous and independent. It is a way to make their point of view, which means that they do not follow any rule imposed by society, but express themselves according to what they believe is more convenient for themselves. They seek their space and include those who are not accepted.
Therefore, black has also acquired the meaning of rebelliousness, oppositionism and individuality.
5. The covent of the color black
Since ancient times, the color black has been related to mysticism and forbidden magic. Being the color catalogued for sorcerers and witches because they were always surrounded by a mysterious aura and had a preference for dark places and for going out at night. From there, the belief arose that black cats attracted bad luck because they were the pets of the practitioners of dark magic.
However, nowadays, many people who consider themselves reserved, shy, introverted and a bit distant from social groups tend to prefer to wear black clothes. As this gives them an air of intrigue and they feel it is the most suitable color for their current situation, as well as the feelings of stillness or uneasiness they may experience.
6. The color black in sexuality
You’ve surely seen in movies that most of the women who wear sexy clothes are black. Whether it’s lingerie, lingerie or tight leather outfits, even the sexiest heels are black. But why are we attracted to this color instead of the red that represents passion?
The answer is that, precisely because black is linked to mystery, not knowing what that person will do or how he or she can surprise us in the sexual area causes us a lot of excitement. In this sense, black in sex is related to the most secret practices that border on the edge of perversion and dominance.
7. Black for mourning
One of the most important relationships that the color black has is with mourning, since this is the color that people usually wear after the death of a loved one. However, this is a belief that derives from the influences of the Christian religion, where black represented the end and therefore, the end of a person’s earthly life that should be honored with mourning.
However, in other cultures such as Hindu, Japanese, Chinese and other oriental countries. The color of mourning that people should wear is white.
8. The professionalism of black
This characteristic is also linked to the symbolism of the elegance of black, but also to other meanings attributed to it: power. That is why it is very common to find furniture and decorative elements in offices or at home in black tones. They also give a character of seriousness and maturity to the environment, as well as formality, stylism, security and neutrality.
Touches of black in a room can give it that ‘something’ it lacks and transform it into the ideal space. It helps to highlight colors, instead of dulling them.
As you can see, the color black is not only limited to being a sad and dull color, but it is a whole palette of different tones with many feelings that are present in our day to day. So use it, to highlight the positives around you.