Effect of Color on Mood - Lab Report Example

? EFFECT OF COLOR ON MOOD Color is an aspect of life that has been present with humanity since its inception. As such, the two aspects are often so delicately intertwined to the extent that the mere presence of color can have significant effects on a human being. Researchers and psychologists have over time studied the fundamental aspects of color and have realized that blue color has calming and relaxing effects. Red color on the other hand has been linked to increased energy levels signified by agitation that have the overall effect of causing anxiety in human beings. Out of the eleven that were subjected to the blue video, 42.5% exhibited high energy emotions while 57.4% exhibited low energy emotions. Out of the eleven that were subjected to the blue video, 44.0% exhibited high energy emotions while 55.9% exhibited low energy emotions. The results of this study clearly indicate that color does have a significant effect on mood in human beings. Effect of color on mood Introduction Color was discovered when pure white light was passed through a prism by Isaac Newton in 1966. He discovered that light is made up of a single wavelength and could be combined in all manners to give other colors in a mixed result. The perceptions of these colors have been subjective to human beings with each color evoking its own unique emotion. Colors in the red area are often referred to as warm colors and are known to evoke emotions of warmth, anger and hostility. Colors in the blue area have been referred to as cool colors and are known to evoke calm feelings (Yildirim, Akalin-Baskaya & Hidayetoglu, 2007). Studies have been carried out since the 1960's to determine the effect of color on the mood of human beings and the result is has always been the same. Viewing a red video has been known to cause anxiety among participants while viewing a blue video has been known to make the participants feel calm and relaxed. In light of this, a research study was developed to study the effects of color on the mood of twenty two participants. Colors have been known to define people hence the study of how color affects them is fundamental. This is because results of the study will allow a better understanding of individuals and the reasons why they behave in a certain manner. It will also enable the design of different products and services that will ensure that the correct emotions are evoked for a particular setting. For example, calm colors mays be used in areas where peace and tranquility is desired as in hospitals while warm colors can be used in places where anxiety and warmth are likely to be favorable as in entertainment places. Previous studies have been undertaken by researchers in psychology to understand how color really works (Yildirim, Akalin-Baskaya & Hidayetoglu, 2007). Angela Wright in 1980 discovered a relationship between light and humanity stating that there were underlying patterns in color choice. She developed a relationship between patterns of color and patterns of human behavior implying that people who chose a certain set of colors were more likely to behave in a certain manner. This study seeks to research into this concept through the use of a randomized experimental design. Twenty two participants are randomly selected and subjected to a questionnaire on their moods before the study. Eleven of these participants are then subjected to a video that has been tinted in blue color and the remaining eleven subjected to a video tinted in red color. The participants are then subjected to another questionnaire, similar to the initial one that seeks to elicit their emotions at the end of the study Hypothesis Exposure of participants to a red video has been known to cause anxiety while exposure to a blue video has been known to make them calm and relaxed. Research Question: Does the color of the environment have an effect on mood? Method A randomized experimental design was carried out in which participants were to be exposed to a stimulus after which their reactions and responses noted down. In this experiment, participants were asked to express their moods before the experiment after which they were asked to watch a video for a minute and a half. Random sampling was used to select twenty two participants to reduce the chance of bias. These participants were then divided randomly into two groups; one group was exposed to a video tinted in blue while the other group exposed to a video tinted in red. There were no controls set up for the study because the two independent variables were being compared to one another. After watching the video, the group was asked to fill out the same questionnaire that they had initially filled and asked to express their moods. This experimental design was carried out in this manner owing to the small number of participants who are required for the study and the easy manipulation of results that are obtained from the study. The independent variable in the study is the red and blue video that does not change and is not affected by the participant's emotions. The dependent variable is the change in mood which depends on the nature of color that the participant is subjected to. Data on mood was collected and classified as energy for emotions like friendly and negative for emotions like tense. The positive or negative emotions were also categorized as either high energy or low energy emotions depending on the level of energy that they presented in the participant. Results In the initial questionnaire in which participants were asked to express their moods, 44.7% exhibited high energy emotions while 55.2 exhibited low energy emotions. Out of the eleven that were subjected to the blue video, 42.5% exhibited high energy emotions while 57.4% exhibited low energy emotions. Out of the eleven that were subjected to the blue video, 44.0% exhibited high energy emotions while 55.9%exhibited low energy emotions. This is illustrated in the chart below: Discussion According to the results that have been obtained from the study, color significantly affects one's mood (Elliot et al., 2007). This is illustrated in the different moods that were elicited by participants after they were exposed to the different colors of videos. The number of participants who exhibited high energy reduced when exposed to the blue video as seen in the results (34.4% as compared to 28.5%). This reduction can be explained as a result of the calming or depressing effect that blue light has on human beings. People who may have exhibited positive high energy emotions such as energy and liveliness could have received a calming effect as a result of the blue light. People who may have exhibited negative high energy emotions such as anger and unease could have received a calming and depressing effect as a result of the blue light. On the other hand, the number of participants who exhibited high energy after exposure to the red video increased from the baseline (34.4% as compared to 37.0%). These people were more agitated than they were at the beginning of the study irrespective of whether that emotion was positive or negative. Someone who was lively could have been made more active by the red video while someone who was anxious could have been made ready to fight by the end of the video. Those who reported low energy in the initial questionnaire reduced in number after an exposure to blue light (33.1% as compared to 30.0%). This can be attributed to the fact that blue light has a calming effect on the mood of human beings thus if someone had low energy at the beginning of the video then they would receive a calming effect from the video which would reduce their level of low negative energy. But on exposure to the red video, the number of people who reported low energy increased from (33.1% as compared to 36.7%). This can be explained by the calming and depressing effects that blue light has on human beings (Elliot et., al, 2007). Hence a person who was exhausted at the beginning of the video could have been worn out by the end of it. Conclusion Color of the environment does have a significant impact in the mood of a human being. Exposure of participants to the red video caused anxiety while exposure to the blue video made them calmer and relaxed. References Elliot, A., Maier, M., Moller, A. and Friedman, R. (2007). Color and psychological functioning: The effect of red on performance attainment. Journal of Experimental Psychology. PsycARTICLES. Yildirim, K., Akalin-Baskaya, A., Hidayetoglu, M. (2007). Effects of indoor color on mood and cognitive performance. Journal of Building and Environment. Elsevier. Read More