Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

The Effects of Color to People’s Emotion and Behavior

Rui CuiRutgers University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

This paper examines the profound impact of color on human psychology and behavior through biological, cognitive, and sociocultural lenses. From a biological perspective, specific wavelengths of light trigger innate autonomic nervous system responses, with red shown to increase arousal and blue to promote calmness. Cognitively, color perception is filtered through learned associations and cultural stereotypes, leading to significant variations in meaning across different societies. Sociocultural, color is strategically employed in marketing, environmental design, and the reinforcement of social norms, though these meanings are fluid and historically contingent. Evidence from neuroscience, cross-cultural studies, and applied fields demonstrates that color acts as a powerful non-verbal communication system. A key conclusion is that effective application requires moving beyond simplistic rules. Instead, it must integrate an understanding of universal physiological reactions with the deep-seated, culturally specific codes that shape our subjective experience of color, acknowledging that our perception is a product of both biology and culture.

Keywords: Color; psychological functioning; emotion; behavior
Published: November 5, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.HT29555
Volume: CHR Vol.95
pp. 150-155
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