Meaning of the color black according to Psychology

Did you know that each color has its own meaning? They not only serve to give life and movement to every aspect of our life, to define an object or as pigments in paints and makeup. Color is closely related to the feelings and emotions that we have and in fact, we can use it on different occasions depending on the state of mind that governs us.

That is why, when seeing a painting or certain nuances somewhere, they generate one or more emotions in while, depending on your mood, you can lean towards a color and even describe your mood According to this. One of the colors that has caused the most intrigue and controversy is the color black, since its meaning has changed over time and the evolution of cultures. But we bet you're going to be surprised by what psychology has to say about this color.

• We recommend you read: "Red color: discover what is its psychological meaning"

Still hard to believe but it causes you intrigue? Then do not miss the following article where We will talk to you about the psychology of color and what the color black represents according to psychology.

What is the psychology of color?

But first let's start by getting to know the psychology of color. Which is the field of study within the psychological sciences that is dedicated to studying and analyzing the effects they have the colors in people's behavior, as well as the perception of these in relation to their environment and how they express it in the Exterior. It is widely used to study, know and understand more about the world of arts and aesthetics, so the psychology of color is widely used in the areas of marketing and advertising.

Have you ever wondered what inspired an artist to make such a colorful or opaque painting? Or the reason for the colors that brand logos have. That is because each color and each combination of them creates a different impression on us, from joy to generating appetite. For this reason, since ancient times people have dedicated themselves to studying the influences that colors have on the way we see the world and what attracts us to it.

Meaning of the color black according to psychology

Before you begin to explain the meaning of the color black, take a few seconds to think about the best way you would describe this color yourself. You may have leaned towards darkness or negativity, after all the color black is just the absence of light and has traditionally been related to feelings sad, the depression and even death. That is, nothing good can represent this color.

But what if I told you that in psychology this is not the case? Although, also in the field of study of human behavior, the color black is conceived as a color representative of darkness, it has nothing to do with the unfavorable at all, but has an impression of enigmatic and abundance. From what we can say that this color refers to the mystery of the unknown, which generates enthusiasm and fear in the same way.

In addition, with the passage of time it has been given other meanings, such as elegance, authority, individualism, the conservative, growth and of course, mysticism. Which we will talk about later.

Historical curiosities of the color black

As we just mentioned, below we will talk about some important facts that have changed people's perception of the color black throughout history and cultures.

1. The negative impact of black

This belief that the color black detracts from the beauty or purity of other colors started from the position of this color as a dividing line between good and evil. What can we find described in the accounts of the genesis and the creation of the world in the book of the Bible:

¨In the beginning God created heaven and earth, it was deformed and empty and darkness covered the Abyss, but the Spirit of God reigned over the waters. And God said: "Let there be light." And there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day’, and the darkness ‘night’... ¨

Therefore, white represents everything that is correct, since it is the color of light, while black refers to evil since it is the color of darkness. In this way, every time black was combined with other colors, the latter lost their original essence. Due to its ability to absorb and not reflect.

2. The color black in ancient cultures

In another completely opposite side, we have the beliefs that the ancient Egyptians had with the color black. Which represented the essence of growth, abundance and fertility. Whereas, for the Japanese, since the beginning of their millenary culture, this color has been seen as a symbolization of the feminine and therefore of beauty. This is because, for them, it is linked to Juventus and eternity.

3. Black is the biggest cry of fashion

The world of fashion and aesthetics has its own language and therefore, its own beliefs and in the case of the color black. It represents nothing more and nothing less than elegance, classic and ethereal. For fashion experts, there is no way to go wrong if you wear a black garment, as it is very flattering for any body type, age and for all occasions.

How many black clothes do you have in your closet?

4. The rebellion of the black

Where is it more common to see black garments? Yes, in young people who profess to be rebellious, spontaneous and independent. It is a way of marking their point of view, which means that they do not follow any imposed norm by society, but rather express themselves according to what they think is most convenient for them themselves. They seek their space and include those who are not accepted.

Therefore, black has also acquired the meaning of rebellion, oppositionalism and individuality.

5. The covent of the color black

Since ancient times the color black has been linked to mysticism and forbidden magic. Being the cataloged color for sorcerers and witches, they were always surrounded by a mysterious aura and had preferences for dark places and for going out at night. From there, the belief arose that black cats attracted bad luck because they were the pets of the practitioners of dark magic.

However today, many people who consider themselves reserved, shy, introverted and a bit removed from social groups tend to prefer the use of black clothes. Since this gives them an air of intrigue and they feel that it is the most suitable color with their current situation, as well as the feelings of stillness or restlessness that they may experience.

6. The color black in sexuality

Surely you have seen in movies that, most of the women who wear sensual clothes, these are black. Whether it's underwear, lingerie, or tight leather ensembles, even the sexiest heels are those in black. But why does this color attract us instead of the red that represents passion?

The answer is that, precisely because black is linked to mystery, not knowing what that person will do or how they can surprise us in the sexual area causes us a lot of excitement. In this sense, black in sex is related to the most secret practices that border on the edge of perversion and dominance.

7. Black for mourning

One of the greatest relationships that the color black has is with mourning, as this is the color that people usually wear after the death of a loved one. However, this is a belief that stems from the influences of the Christian religion, where black it represented the end and therefore the end of the earthly life of a person who had to be honored with mourning.

However, in other cultures such as Hindu, Japanese, Chinese and others from eastern countries. The color of mourning that people must wear is white.

8. The professionalism of the Negro

This characteristic is also linked to the symbolism of the elegance of black, but also to other meaning attributed to it: power. That is why it is very common to find furniture and decoration elements in offices or at home in black tones. They also give a character of seriousness and maturity to the environment, as well as formality, style, security and neutrality.

The touches of black in a room can give it that 'something' that is missing and transform it into the ideal space. Since it helps to highlight the colors, instead of dulling them.

As you can see, the color black is not just limited to being a sad and muted color, but it is about of a whole palette of different tones with many feelings that are present in our day to day day. So use it, to highlight the positive that is around you.