What does the color brown mean in psychology?

All colors have an influence on the human mind, even brown. From its connection with nature to its relationship with bitterness, here we will delve into the meaning of this color.

The meaning of the color brown is intuitive, at least it is the color of earth and brown, in addition to being present in the fur of many animals. Therefore, it is a tone associated with nature and its elements, although its meaning is closely linked to the context.

Although it is not one of the most appreciated, its interpretation is broad. Those cultures closer to natural environments tend to hold it in higher esteem, but in urban areas this feeling becomes more negative..

Below, you can find information about the physical characteristics of brown and also a general review of its meaning and the uses that it is given today. Don’t miss anything, because you are not the first person to wonder how colors influence us.

The physics of brown

Brown, also called brown, coffee, chestnut, cinnamon, chocolate or kaluais a dark and poorly saturated color that is within the spectrum of red and yellow. It is a polychromatic color, that is, it is a mixture of several shades (both in light and pigments)..

You may have noticed that brown, gray or pink are not seen in the rainbow. Light is broken down into its primary colors when passing through a transparent medium, such as water droplets: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue and violet. Within the color spectrum, brown is located between 580 and 620 nanometers..

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Specifically, it is obtained by mixing the 3 primary lights (red, blue and green) in different proportions, that is, it is a tertiary color.

What is the meaning of the color brown?

Although they are a mere mental representation of the wavelengths of light, colors have a cultural and personal implication, giving rise to multiple meanings and uses.

Despite its connection with the chromaticity of nature, brown does not have intense connotations in human emotionality. According to Max Lüscher, author of the famous color test, this shade is passively receptive..

In other words, the general tendency observed in experimental subjects is to consider that brown has very few emotional qualities.

Brown is the color of autumn and withered, of the path towards the cold of winter.

However, this does not mean that the color brown is devoid of meaning, but rather that it is thought of as an addition to other colors and mental situations. An example of this is the results found by Rivera in his 2001 study, where the adjectives most used among the subjects in the sample were “earth”, “trunk”, “wood”, “tree”, “chocolate”, “seriousness”. », «brick», «ugly» and «pretty».

The ambivalence of brown

According to the research carried out by Eva Heller, which was captured in her popular book Color psychology (2004), the brown color is attributed sensations with negative connotations such as “unfriendly” or “anti-erotic.” However, a percentage of the study’s respondents have mentioned that brown is “cozy.”

By itself, brown evokes neutral and bitter feelings due to its dull neutrality.. In addition, it is sometimes linked to dirt and filth, due to its resemblance to stained surfaces and excrement.

Eva Heller states that brown is the most rejected color of all, as it represents what is outdated and what is in the process of becoming extinct.

However, it is also a color that has to do with vigor, strength, solidarity, confidentiality and dignity.. In turn, she relates it to the familiar and the comfortable.

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On the other hand, Lüscher himself points out that people who like brown tend to anesthetize unpleasant sensations through the satisfaction of physiological needs (eating, drinking, sex, etc.).

Its uses

Brown is very present in everyday life, since wooden furniture is usually this color. Fashion also appropriates the range of browns, especially when autumn arrives and the bright and bright colors of spring and summer are no longer used.

Brown is used in interior decoration when you want to give a cozy atmosphere to the room., especially in winter tourist places, such as hotels and rural houses. On the other hand, its use is used to give dramatic, intimate and intense effects in audiovisual productions.

Brown too It has a special meaning within the symbolism of certain cultures. In Christianity, for example, it represents the renunciation of material goods, which is why monks wear brown. In Ethiopia and India it is the color of mourning, of the body returning to the earth.

Continue learning about the psychology of colors!

The study of the effect of colors on the psyche has a long history, as it has been proven that they have an influence on the emotions, thoughts and even the decisions we make.

If you are interested in the way colors influence human lives, we urge you to continue exploring, as we have already published several articles on this topic.