Brown color in psychology: meaning, preferences, color perception and influence on the psyche

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Brown color is one of the most difficult to form in the spectral table. The variety of its shades allows each person to find something of his own in the palette of tones, suitable for the mood or current state of mind. What is the meaning of brown in psychology and why do some people prefer it to all others?

The positive value of brown in different cultures

For the ancient Greeks, brown was closely associated with the image of the goddess of life cycle and fertility, Hera, and was considered one of the most honorable and used in everyday life. The rich chocolate shades of the brown spectrum were revered by both the ancient Egyptians and the natives of the African continent, and in each case, the color of the earth was considered a symbol of the hearth, a stable position and strong family relationships.

In Slavic life, brown was rare, and even then mainly in the form of a natural color of variouslabor materials, which corresponded to its symbolic meaning - mother earth. The Rusichi ancestors of the simple class avoided wearing clothes of dark, brown shades - it was believed that only an animal that was totemic among the Slavs - a bear, as well as the powers that be - princes and eminent citizens, could have this color. Everything that was compared with the cult image of the forest owner: strength, perseverance, invincible ferocity - was automatically associated by our ancestors with brown.

Negative brown values

Most modern people are cool about brown, and there are many reasons for this, given the influence on the minds of various religious and historical facts associated with coffee and chocolate shades. Thus, Islamists have long been of the opinion that dark, earthy tones are symbols of social and moral decay, devastation, and ignorance. Representatives of the Catholic Church of the Middle Ages thought about the same - this color, in their presentation, personified the poverty of life and spirit, moral decline, incest and lust.

Christianity interpreted the wearing of dark brown clothes as a sign of worship of the devil and serving the dark forces, but the peak of the negative attitude towards this color came in the 20s of the last century. This period was marked by the popularization of the fascist movement in Germany, which, thanks to the brown form of aggressive youth, remained in history under the name "brown plague".

Brown color in psychology

Despite the conservative and respectable appearance,Brown has rarely been on anyone's preference list for quite some time. Even more rarely, it accompanies a person throughout life. What does brown mean in psychology? Experts note that the desire to surround yourself with brown and coffee shades is observed in a person with the following changes in state of mind:

• for depression and loss of self-confidence;
• if necessary, get rid of heavy thoughts or get out of a protracted conflict situation;
• with chronic fatigue, mental "burnout".

Teenagers often choose this color, trying to get away from the sensuality that awakens in them and to drown out their protest against the usual way of life. An even, natural color gives a sense of stability, serves as a guarantee that everything will turn out well and as it should.

People who are sleep-deprived, work-weary, or often stressed out instinctively want to bring lots of soft-toned brown details into their wardrobe or home interior. The abundance of such elements gives a feeling of physical liberation, peace, harmony.

Rejection, a categorical dislike for brown in psychology is characterized as a desire to rise above the primitive needs of the body. Do not accept dark shades - from coffee to clay - bright individualists, spiritual personalities, creative natures.

Zodiac preferences

Since brown is emphasized in psychology as a "grounding" factor,return to nature and natural simplicity, this color suits two zodiac signs perfectly - Virgo and Capricorn.

The Capricorn Practitioner always strives to stay with his opinion, but he hates to complicate things and inevitably returns to the roots in search of the truth. Capricorn has a vital need to periodically refer to the experience of his ancestors, and the brown color helps him not to lose this connection and remain someone like the keeper of family traditions and tribal memory.

The thoughtful and pedantic Virgo never has her head in the clouds, and in all matters she prefers to use the shortest path to solving a problem. Dark shades such as "brown", "mahogany", "chocolate" help Virgo to concentrate and not be distracted by insignificant details.

Brown color in the Luscher table

The Luscher color test defines brown as a deep yellow-red that looks passive enough not to appear impulsive. As a rule, a card of this color is put aside by the tested person beyond the periphery of the key zone, which is an absolute norm. This means that a person regards his physical condition as satisfactory and does not consider it necessary to concentrate on he alth issues.

The brown card, ranked among the first in a row, is considered an alarm sign indicating the patient's subconscious fear for his life, freedom and safety. People who do not have their own housing, chronically ill or deprived of family ties, declare in this way their priority desire to get rid ofproblems rather than buying something new. Perhaps behind the desire to fence off is a heavy dependence on finances, a failed personal life, or accumulated fatigue.

Brown clothing

Psychologists call the brown color in clothes both the choice of the strong and the preference of the unprotected. The first category of people belongs to the true connoisseurs of a practical life position - it is important for them that the clothes are always impeccable, do not get dirty, do not serve as the subject of undue attention. This color is chosen by hidden manipulators, as well as very frugal people who live with a constant eye on their calmness and a sense of inner comfort.

The second category gives out people who are emotionally depressed, looking for support on the physical level - financial stability, material we alth, marital status. In such clothes, especially if it includes 2-3 shades of brown in muted tones, it is easy to hide in the crowd, waiting out some difficult life period.

Now a few words about the psychology of a woman. The brown color in the wardrobe of a lady is closely associated with the bleak, baggy clothes of the Soviet era, when bright fabrics were difficult to get and the fair sex had to dress almost the same. For this reason, modern women very rarely buy chocolate and coffee shades of clothing, although dark colors can advantageously emphasize the dignity of the figure and hide flaws.

Young people should not get carried away with coloring their lives in chocolate tones, as such a choice can visually age a person, give an imagewilting notes. It is better to stay on beige shades, complementing the suit with bright, contrasting accessories.

Interior solutions

The presence of brown color in the interior is considered by the psychology of color as a desire to strengthen the energy of stability and peace in the house, to give the home a solid and at the same time discreet look. Brown, chocolate and coffee shades are usually used for floor coverings and furniture.

Even if a person does not welcome the dark brown color, both psychologists and bioenergetics strongly recommend including it in the interior of the home. It is not necessary to force the rooms with an annoying shade of furniture arrays - it is enough to use it in the elements of the decoration of the environment.

Feng Shui adherents give brown a special position in the house and actively use it in the eastern part of the home, which is responsible for he alth and family well-being. In this zone, it is good to relax after a working day and gain strength before any decisive event.

The effect of brown on physical condition

If a person periodically likes the brown color, psychologists advise him to pay attention to his he alth, since such an unexpected sympathy may indicate an unconscious desire to get rid of the problem at the physical level.

Due to the fact that all brown shades contain warm, stimulating notes of orange and red, this color will be useful for:

• violationcirculation;
• weak immune system;
• chronic fatigue;
• erratic heart rate.

At the same time, color therapy with the inclusion of coffee and chocolate notes of the brown spectrum helps to reduce the activity of brain processes, regulates blood pressure, normalizes sleep.

Effect on the psyche

Psychologists call the color brown “positive”, “credible”. During the passage of difficult life stages, people tend to return to their origins, to be closer to nature - that is, to turn to what accompanied humanity along the entire path of its formation. Having called for help the color of the earth or tree bark, a person begins to see the situation from the angle of the shortest path to the realization of his goal.

Sometimes, in order to solve an important task, it is necessary to temporarily abstract from society, concentrate on your feelings and set goals. In this case, a person will unconsciously strive to become invisible, to close himself with a shell under which no one will have a desire to look. Neutral shades of brown - taupe, clay, olive - are the perfect choice to blend in with the crowd.

Brown lovers - who are they?

Those who love brown, psychologists divide into two conditional categories - these are "in need of protection" and "self-sufficient". For the first, sympathy for the chocolate and coffee environment flares up suddenly or intensifies in waves, and then, with the loss of need, fades away. These people, as a rule, are defenseless against difficult life situations.circumstances and in dire need of stability and constancy.

To "self-sufficient" include conservatives who consciously perceive life as an endless resistance to oncoming forces. The characteristic of people whose favorite color is brown, in psychology is as follows:

• low creative factor;
• high performance;
• pragmatism and discretion;
• lack of daydreaming and adventurism;
• consistency and logic.

Fans of dark coffee tones are not distinguished by artistry and sociability, but they are wonderful friends and great leaders. The only vivid fear of these people is the need for spontaneous action, which they will try to avoid at all costs.

Color manipulation

If a person reading this article caught himself thinking that it is time to put things in order in his life, then it is better to start with adjusting the color scheme of the surrounding space and wardrobe. Surprisingly, even 1-2 accessories in clothes and a couple of additional details in the decoration of the room, made in a rich chocolate or pleasant cinnamon color scheme, can bring harmony to the mind of the owner and make him more collected.

When applying for a job in an important government position or in an office where a dress code is required, psychologists recommend wearing a brown jacket or good dark shoes of thick coffee color. This will serve as a signal to the employer that he is a responsible and balanced person. Butfor food industry workers or doctors, brown in everyday life is contraindicated - it will cause unpleasant associations and may serve as a reason for dissatisfaction with others.