The meaning of the color orange in psychology

The study of the meaning of color has a long history within humanity. The relationship of people with the environment, as well as the development of culture and interpersonal relationships, influence the emotions and attitudes that each color arouses.

If we talk about meaning of the color orange, this is broad and depends a lot on associated variables, such as intensity. In fact, it is difficult to find dichotomies in it, since each type of orange inspires in one direction: from creativity to destruction.

In this article you can explore the physical characteristics and connotations of each shade of orange, studied by the most representative figures of this school of psychology, such as Eva Heller. Do not miss it.

The physics of the color orange

The orange, so called because of the resemblance it has to the fruit of the orange tree, It is perceived by photoreception of light whose dominant wavelength measures 595-630 nanometers.. It is considered a warm color. Lengths above 615 nanometers approach yellow, while those closer to 595 nanometers become increasingly red.

According to the law of light mixing (RGB system), orange is obtained by superimposing red light and green light, the latter at half the intensity of red. The complementary of orange would be blue or cerulean. However, when it comes to pigments, orange is obtained from the mixture of red and yellow, so it is a secondary color. This theory (CMYK system) is the most used in art, the creation of inks and image reproduction in general.

What does orange mean?

In general, the meaning of the color orange revolves around joy, enthusiasm and extraversion.. It is a striking and exotic color that some people consider too intense. According to Eva Heller, it is the color of fun and sociability.

Thus, it is related to sociable, original, active and enthusiastic people. On the less desirable side, it evokes feelings of rejection for drawing too much attention and conveying a feeling of frivolity and conventionality.

The most intense shade of orange is related to danger in some regions, especially in those where the population is in contact with poisonous plants and animals. In nature, bright colors are often a warning to predators, known as aposematic color.

Use of orange in marketing

When promoting a product, it has been observed that colors have an influence on consumer preferences. They affect decision-making and evoke specific feelings. Therefore, color psychology is one of the most important pillars of marketing.

Regarding orange, and the rest of the warm colors, It helps stimulate appetite, which is why they are commonly used in restaurants and food brands. A relationship has also been found between intense orange and the experience of sweet taste.

Using orange to attract attention

Orange is the color that is most easily seen in low light conditions or in water.. This is very useful for making warning and rescue objects, such as reflective and inflatable vests, as well as lifeboats.

The prisoners’ uniforms are orange in some places to make them easier to locate in case of escapes. This same principle is used in astronauts’ suits, to make them more visible in the darkness of space. Another striking example is the famous black box of airplanes, which is actually orange so that it can be found easily.

The color orange in other cultures

What you have read in previous lines corresponds to the meaning of the color orange in most Western cultures. If you travel to other parts of the globe, you may find different conceptions for this color, as you can read in the following examples:

Buddhism: The color orange is the color of enlightenment, hence the costumes of Buddhist monks are that color. It is a shade close to the color of saffron.Hinduism: It is also a color associated with the path to perfection. The divinity Krishna is represented with yellow and orange clothing.Confucianism: In ancient Chinese philosophy, orange is the color of transformation.Middle East: In certain countries in this part of the globe, such as Egypt, orange is associated with mourning and loss.

As you can see, the meaning of the color orange is varied and has uses for all tastes. Each of its shades evokes very different feelings from each other, both subjective and scientifically proven.

If you are interested in color psychology, we recommend that you continue researching here, since the mixture of the projective and the scientific is exciting when it comes to this topic.