Color and Personality Traits

Color and Personality Traits

Austin Nursing News

Color and personality traits have a closer relationship than we think. Just
as our personalities are continually evolving, the colors we prefer also
change through our experiences, environment, age, and gender.
For example, women are more aware of certain shades and prefer red to
blue while men prefer blue to red. Elderly people prefer lighter tones over
darker ones. People with schizophrenia tend to prefer neutral hues such as
white, black, brown, and gray. People with bipolar disorder tend to prefer
chromatic hues such as red, yellow, green and blue.
People have different tastes regarding the spectrum of colors, and this
can actually tell us something about who they are, or how they are feeling
on a particular day. In fact changes throughout your life can/will cause you
to change the preferences of your likes and dislikes, which is just as well
since the same old thing every day would become boring. So, as you get older
and more mature, you will find that you like different shades, flavors, and
even scents. This is neither good nor bad; it just means you are changing in
some way.
All right, now think of your favorite color (don't let the above
introduction sway your thinking; as though you can help it, but try) and
read the descriptions below.

Black - Like: This is rarely chosen as a favorite color because it is
actually the negation of color. The person who chooses black may have a
number of conflicting attitudes. You may be conventional, conservative and
serious, or you may like to think of yourself as rather worldly or
sophisticated, a cut above everyone else or very dignified.
Dislike: Since black is the negation of color, it may be a total
negative to you. It is the eternal mystery, the bottomless pit, the black
hole. You are uncomfortable with the super-sophisticated and feel insecure
in their company. You like real people and are not dazzled by dignitaries.

Blue - Like: The color of tranquility and peace, blue tends to be the most
preferred color universally. Although cool and confident (or wishing to be),
blues can be vulnerable.
Dislike: A dislike of blue may mean restlessness- -a need to break away
from the sameness that bores you. Perhaps you would like to change your job,
or even your life, and long for more excitement.

Brown - Like: The color of Mother Earth is the hue that is associated with
substance and stability. A preference for brown means you have a steady,
reliable character with a keen sense of duty and responsibility. Family life
is very important to you.
Dislike: You probably fantasize about a lot of things, perhaps
traveling with a circus or racing cars. Novelty excites you and routine
drives you crazy.

Grey - Like: People who prefer this most neutral of all shades are carefully
neutral about life. You like to protect yourself from the hectic world,
wrapping yourself with the security blanket of a noncommittal color. You are
the middle-of-the- road type, cool, conservative, composed and reliable.
Dislike: To dislike grey is to dislike neutrality. You would rather be
right or wrong, but never indifferent. Routine bores you. You look for a
richer, fuller life.

Green - Like: Nature's most plentiful color promises a balance between
warmth and coolness, so green people are usually stable and balanced types.
This is the good citizen, concerned parent, involved neighbor and PTA
member--the joiner of clubs and organizations. You are fastidious, kind and
generous.
Dislike: Since lovers of green are usually very social, joiners and
keep up with the Joneses" types, dislikers of green will often put those
qualities down. You may have an unfulfilled need to be recognized that
causes you to pull away from people rather than join them. Yours is a
no-nonsense approach to life. You don't like others to be coy with you--you
would rather they be direct. Nostalgia is not your thing; you live in the
present.

Orange - Like: Orange is a combination of red and yellow, so it takes on
many of the characteristics of both colors. It is vibrant and warm, like the
autumn leaves. Orange has the physical force of red, but it is less intense,
less passionate. Lovers of this color work and play hard are adventurous and
enthusiastic.
Dislike: Life is definitely not a dish of gumdrops for the rejecter of
orange. Nothing flamboyant appeals to you. You dislike too much partying,
hilarity, loud laughter, showing off and obvious intimacy. As a result, you
may be difficult to get to know, if not a loner.

Pink - Like: This is a softened red, so it tempers passion with purity. It
is associated with romance, sweetness, delicacy, refinement and tenderness.
Pink people are interested in the world around them, but they do not throw
themselves into participating with the ardor of the red person. Violence in
any form is upsetting to you.
Dislike: Soft, medium tints do not evoke much emotion--many people are
indifferent to pink. It is sweetness, innocence and naiveté--red with the
passion removed.

Purple - Like: This hue has an aura of mystery and intrigue. The purple
person is enigmatic and highly creative, with a quick perception of
spiritual ideas. Purple is often preferred by artists. People who like to
consider themselves different from the common herd or unconventional often
prefer purple.
Dislike: If you dislike purple, you probably have no desire to be
artistic or creative. You feel that purple represents snobbery, falseness,
exaggeration and vanity. You pride yourself on your sincerity and genius,
and sometimes misjudge others because you do not like them or approve of
them.

Red - Like: Just as red sits on top of the rainbow, you like to stay on top
of things. You have a zest for life. Remember that red can speed up the
pulse, increase the respiration rate and raise blood pressure. It is
associated with fire, heat, and blood, so it is impossible to ignore. And so
are you (or would like to be).
The key words associated with red are winner, achiever, intense,
impulsive, active, competitive, daring, aggressive and passionate. Red
people are exciting, animated, optimistic, emotional and extroverted. Desire
is the key word; they hunger for fullness of experience and living.
Dislike: Since red is primarily associated with a zest for life,
excitement and passion, a dislike of this hue could mean that these feelings
are a bit much for you to handle at this point in your life. Perhaps you are
bothered by the aggressiveness and intensity that red signifies.

White - Like: White is cleanliness and purity, and those who prefer white
are neat and immaculate in their clothing and homes. You are inclined to be
a cautious buyer and shrewd trader, but critical and fussy.
Dislike: Since white represents cleanliness and purity, to dislike
white does not exactly mean that you are a messy person, but it does mean
that you have never been obsessed with order. You are not very fussy. Things
that are a little off-center are much more interesting to you than those
that are perfectly in line.

Yellow - Like: Yellow is luminous and warm because it is strongly associated
with sunshine. It sparkles with optimistic activity. Yellow people are
highly original, imaginative, idealistic, creative, artistic and often
spiritual.
Dislike: If you dislike yellow, you usually dislike the qualities that
this luminous color has. You are a realist--a practical, down-to-earth
person and probably critical of others who are not.