How does the color green affect human behavior?

Answer 1

I remember several years ago that somewhere in the U.S. they painted the "holding pen" for criminals in a pink. They found that it actually calmed the criminals down. Advertisers have been quick to capitalize on psychological research into the effects of color on our emotions and perceptions. The ads we watch use this knowledge to evoke feelings or memories that make us want the goods on display, but it is not only in advertising that colors are chosen to have a subconscious effect on the viewer. Research has, for instance, led many employers to use a green color scheme in the workplace, as there is evidence to suggest that this results in less absenteeism through illness. At the University of Iowa, Hawkeye Coach Hayden Fry had the locker room used by visiting teams painted pink, on the basis of research that showed pink surroundings have the effect of reducing aggression! Whether or not we

Answer 2

Green is often associated with nature, tranquility, and growth, which can have a calming and stress-reducing effect on people. It is believed to have a positive impact on mood, creativity, and productivity. Additionally, green is also associated with health and is said to promote feelings of balance and harmony.

Answer 3

I remember several years ago that somewhere in the U.S. they painted the "holding pen" for criminals in a pink. They found that it actually calmed the criminals down. Advertisers have been quick to capitalize on psychological research into the effects of color on our emotions and perceptions. The ads we watch use this knowledge to evoke feelings or memories that make us want the goods on display, but it is not only in advertising that colors are chosen to have a subconscious effect on the viewer. Research has, for instance, led many employers to use a green color scheme in the workplace, as there is evidence to suggest that this results in less absenteeism through illness. At the University of Iowa, Hawkeye Coach Hayden Fry had the locker room used by visiting teams painted pink, on the basis of research that showed pink surroundings have the effect of reducing aggression! Whether or not we—or indeed they—are aware of it, visitors to our Web sites, too, will make assumptions about the nature, quality, reliability, and value of our products or services as a result of the colors we use. The meanings of colors There are no "good" or "bad" colors. All colors have positive and negative effects depending on context, and evoke responses tempered by the experience of those viewing them. Some of the more common Western cultural responses to colors are outlined in the table below. Colors and their common connotations in Western culture Color Positive Negative White Clean, innocent, pure Cold, empty, sterile Red Strong, brave, passionate Dangerous, aggressive, domineering Yellow Happy, friendly, optimistic Cowardly, annoying, brash Brown Warm, earthy, mature Dirty, sad, cheap Green Natural, tranquil, relaxing Jealous, inexperienced, greedy Blue Strong, trustworthy, authoritative Cold, depressing, gloomy None of this is clear-cut. Because colors are capable of so much variation, making absolute statements about meaning is impossible. However, understanding some important concepts about color will help us appreciate how varying a color, and combining it with others, can affect its impact. Let's take a look. Hue, saturation, and luminosity Hue determines the basic color—whether it appears green, red, blue, orange, and so forth. Figure 1: Hue determines basic color. A color's hue has a strong effect on how it is perceived. A color from the center of the red part of the spectrum will be perceived as more threatening, or perhaps more passionate, than one that is closer to orange; while red with a pinkish hue is a calmer color. Saturation refers to the amount of grey in a color, and determines how vivid it is. Figure 2: Saturation refers to the amount of grey in a color. As a general rule, women tend to prefer less saturated colors, and men more saturated ones. Luminosity refers to the whiteness or intensity of a color; luminosity for any one color will range from pure white though to black. Figure 3: Luminosity refers to the whiteness or intensity of a color. Using the same color at varying degrees of luminance in a site's palette results in a harmonious color scheme. In general, colors with more luminance feel lighter, while those toward the dark end of the scale are more "serious" colors.

Answer 4

If you were young, and had a bad interaction with the color green, such as being locked in a green room while feeling upset or angry, you may feel bad around other green things, perhaps.