Effects
of Single Colored Wardrobes on Movement, Mood, Rest, and Thought Patterns
Purpose
The
purpose of this investigation is to determine the psychological and
physiological effects of various single color wardrobes on female participants.
The study seeks to determine how color therapy might be used to proactively
control mood, sleep-patterns, and thought processes.
Materials
-1 suit
of blue clothing
-1 suit
of green clothing
-1 suit
of purple clothing
-1 suit
of pink clothing
-1 suit
of red clothing
-1 suit
of yellow clothing
-1
studio with bare walls
-1 bed
frame
-1
mattress
-1 set
of white sheets
-2 white
pillows
-2 hot
lamps
-2
umbrellas to diffuse light
-1
digital camera
Procedure/Methodology
Participants
were invited to change into a suit of one color. The color suit they wore was
pre-selected by the experimenter. Next, models responded to a question
regarding their mood. Participants were then asked to assume any postures on
the white bed that reflected their experience within the colored suit. Two heat
lamps were turned on at this time to ensure enough lighting for documentation.
(Lamps must be fastened with umbrellas to diffuse the light and allow for
participant comfort). White walls and bed sheets were provided to ensure that
no other colors influenced the participants movement, mood, or thought
patterns during the experiment. The experimenter took a series of photos to
record the movement patterns of the models in their respective suits. The
participants were then asked to take a short rest of approximately ten minutes
in length to assess the effect of color on their capacity to rest peacefully.
The rest period was also intended to allow the color sufficient time to
complete osmosis into the participants consciousnesses. Pre-rest, the
experimenter provided a pillow for the participant, turned off the two heat
lamps, and exited the room for ten minutes. The experimenter returned in
approximately ten minutes, woke the respective participants, and asked them to
fill out a series of questions regarding the quality of their rest and their
current mood. Participants were also asked to give themselves a fake name that
represented their personality within their colored suit. The participants were
also asked to complete five minutes of stream of consciousness writing along
with word and animal associations to more comprehensively illuminate the
colors effects on participants thought processes and moods. Animal
associations were utilized to assess the primal, unconscious mood altering
effects of the colored suits. Finally, the participant was asked to complete a
drawing of one of the words, qualities, or animals they had free-associated.
The photo records, written responses, and drawings were carefully analyzed to
assess the overall effect of each color on each participant.
Data/Results
Blue Creature:
Name: Meg
Self-given
Name: Lily
Lagoon
Rest
Period:
Afternoon
Mood
Before Putting on Color: Curious
How
did you feel during the course of your rest?
Check
all that apply, then explain:
1.
Anxious/Fitful/unable to relax
2.
Moderately relaxed/occasionally distracted by anxiety/thoughts/emotions
3.
Calm/able to relax Calm
Record
your thoughts (5 minutes) Stream of consciousness, let it stream
Theres
a clock ticking loudly, I listened to it during my rest and it made me aware of
my heartbeat, which didnt seem as regular as the tick-tocking. I had thoughts
of whales sounding and someone timing how long they stayed underneath the
water how long until the next surfacing
Mood
Post Rest: Quiet
What
three words or qualities do you associated with your color?
1.
Spacious
2. Weird
3.
Peaceful
What
two animals do you associate with your color?
1. My
blue parakeet
2.
Blue-footed booby
Green Creature:
Name: Laney
Self-Given
Name: Loraine
Moot
Rest
Period:
Afternoon
Mood
Before Putting on Color: Sleepy
How
did you feel during the course of your rest?
Check
all that apply, then explain:
1.
Anxious/Fitful/unable to relax
2.
Moderately relaxed/occasionally distracted by anxiety/thoughts/emotions
3.
Calm/able to relax Calm
Record
your thoughts (5 minutes) Stream of consciousness, let it stream
I am a
thick moss spreading out over the bed...slowly... surrepticiously. Soon I will
cover the whole bed and the bed will become a shady, overgrown garden. I drank
a thick, green tea in my sleep and it over-flowed my mouth poured from my lips
and left a streak of electric green across my face.
I am now
very aware of the ink-splaying pen in my hand and how it is not green, but
rather black—out of place in my mossy green, verdura jungle land of only
things green green green greeeeeeeeeeeen!
Mood
Post Rest:
Peaceful/wild
What
three qualities or words do you associate with your color?
1.
Leaf
2.
Sick-face,
3.
Remote
What two
animals do you associate with your color?
1.Dinosaur
2.Frog
Purple/Magenta Creature:
Name:
Laura
Self-Given
Name: Sofia
Rest
Period:
Nighttime
Mood
Before Putting on Color: Tense
How
did you feel during the course of your rest?
Check
all that apply, then explain:
1.
Anxious/Fitful/unable to relax
2.
Moderately relaxed/occasionally distracted by anxiety/thoughts/emotions
3.
Calm/able to relax Calm, very comfortable
Record
your thoughts (5 minutes) Stream of consciousness, let it stream
Warmth,
grapes (eww, grape kool-aid is gross!) babushkas on parade, Great Plains Ive
never visited but Id like to! Cocoons with beautiful little baby butterflies
are they even alive in those silken wrappings?
Spreading
winks and soaring through rich skies.
Let them
eat fudge!
What
is your current mood?
Relaxed/comfortable
What
three words or qualities do you associate with your color?
1. Pride
2.
Wealth/richness
3. Royal
What
two animals do you associate with your color?
1. Elephants
(when colorblind)
2.
Hippos (very vicious but pudgy creatures
Pink Creature:
Name: Serena
Self-Given
Name: Radiant
Cat
Rest
Period: Nighttime
Mood
Before Putting on Color: Very peaceful
How
did you feel during the course of your rest?
Check
all that apply, then explain:
1.
Anxious/Fitful/unable to relax
2.
Moderately relaxed/occasionally distracted by anxiety/thoughts/emotions(distracted by thoughts)
3.
Calm/able to relax
Record
your thoughts (5 minutes) stream of consciousness, let it stream:
Oh,
somehow I could use more sleep. I think of Adrian and what love was. Is. It
only seems to elude me now, but it surrounds me. And I need to remember those
moments, carry them with me continually, and resurrect them vividly with
frequency. Those moments of self-love and tranquility. Too rare and so
powerful. I am too serious also. Blahhhh!! Oh smiles and pink and mismatch.
Patch up holes or not. Know the curve of your ankle and its constant
self-assurance. Youve always had talented ankles.
Mood Post
Rest:
Soft
What
three words or qualities do you associate with your color?
1.
Bright
2.
Hiding
3. Coy
What
are two animals you associate with your color?
1.
Kittens
2.
Parrots
Red Creature:
Name: Pasha
Self
Given Name:
Vinoir Bordeaux Lemanche
Rest
Period:
Nighttime
Mood
Before Putting on Color: Calm like the blue oceanmaybe the green ocean
Record
your thoughts (5 minutes) Stream of consciousness, let it stream
Sometimes
I think maybe rouge the color of lust and sin its good to be bad and the sexy,
sultry, succulent sounds of sweet love-making invaded my thoughts but she oh I
wonder and animal lust white pure wedding night stain of shame the crimson wine
whets my appetite its strange these thoughts perchance and perhaps this satin
shine of muted gold perchance it will be mine and the slow drip of the hot wax
down the smooth sides of the crme colored candle is the only indication of
passing time oh time you thief
How
did you feel during the course of your rest?
Check
all that apply, then explain:
1.
Anxious/Fitful/unable to relax
2.
Moderately relaxed/occasionally plagued by anxiety or strong emotions lust
3.
Calm/able to relax
What
is your current mood?
Silly with thoughts of lust. Red turns me strange and foreign in my skin
What
three words or qualities do you associate with your color?
1.Intensity
2.
Sultry
3. Young
What
two animals do you associate with your color?
1. A
young playful kitten
2. A basilisk
Yellow Creature:
Name:
Lara
Self-given
Name: Bumby Me
Rest
Period: Early
Afternoon
Mood
Before Putting on Yellow: Anxious
Record
your thoughts (5 minutes) Stream of consciousness, let it stream
Bumble
bee, wanting to be free
so much
inside, feeling confined
oh joy
to break out, to cry and
to laugh
to be
honest and true
that I
love you
So warm
like honey
and
funny like you
I feel
warm and fuzzy
and its
hard to admit
my true
feelings, so smitt
its
like a bee buzzing
inside
me
not sure
why the bee is
still
in, but not for always
kisses,
caresses, Ill miss em,
for a
bit
celebrate
openness & growth
feed the
soul and feed the hope
How
did you feel during the course of your rest?
Check
all that apply, then explain:
1.
Anxious/Fitful/unable to relax
2.
Moderately relaxed/occasionally plagued by anxiety or strong emotions (thoughts of personal life kept her awake)
3.
Calm/able to relax
Mood
Post Rest:
happy
and teary
What
three words or qualities do you associate with your color?
1.Happy
2.
Mellow
3.
Brightened
What
two animals do you associate with your color?
1.
Bumblebee
2.
Elephant
Analyses/Conclusions
Analyses
of Blue Effects:
Effects
of the Color Blue on Movement:
The blue
color inspired expansive movements, stretching, and aided in postures requiring
strength. The color also promoted stillness.
Effects
of the Color Blue on Mood:
The
color calmed and quieted the mind and awakened its capacity for spaciousness.
At times, the color blue also produced weird, or alien feelings in the
participant.
Effects
of the Color Blue on Rest:
The
color blue helped to promote a calm, relaxed, and thought-free resting
experience.
Effect
of the Color Blue on Thought Patterns:
The color
blue awakened thoughts of oceans and other expansive landscapes. The color
raised an interest in alien experiences (underwater life, for example). These
patterns indicate how blue may improve the vividness of imagination. It also
allowed the participant to delve more deeply into the present moment with
careful, devoted attention.
Recommendations
for the use of Blue:
The
color blue should be utilized to promote physical strength and expansiveness.
It may also be used to inspire a calm, still, and aware mental state. The color
should be used to enhance creativity and imagination. The color should be
avoided by those who feel strange and isolated in their daily lives. The color
should also be avoided in party settings or other highly social environments;
such environments would produce an internal conflict between inclinations
towards stillness (promoted by the color) and high-energy, social demands.
Analyses
of Green Effects:
Effects
of Color Green on Movement:
The
green color had a grounding effect on the participant; the participant dressed
in the green suit posed mostly in seated or reclined postures, seemingly
attached to the bedspread.
Effects
of Color Green on Mood:
The
color green infused the participant with a sense of peace and freedom. The participant
also felt more alert and full of life.
Effects
of Color Green on Rest:
The
color green facilitated a peaceful, productive resting period.
Effects
of Color Green on Thought Patterns:
The color
green inspired thoughts about the natural world. Green made the participant
consider solitary, remote scenes where living things grew without restriction.
The participant also began to consider ancient beings from the age of reptiles.
Recommendations
for the use of Green:
The
color green should be used to improve ones connection with the natural world.
The color has a grounding and calming effect and can improve the quality of
rest. Green can also provide one with a sense of liberation from worldly restrictions
and the possibility for personal growth. Green is not recommended for those
with a very busy schedule or intensive, active physical work.
Analyses
of Purple Effects:
Effects
of the Color Purple on Movement:
The
color purple inspired the participant to lounge and to take up large amounts of
space on the bed. Her movements were regal and proud.
Effects
of the Color Purple on Mood:
The
color gave the participant a feeling of pride and luxurious comfort.
Effects
of the Color Purple on Rest:
Purple
allowed for easy, comfortable resting. The color seemed to melt away previous
thoughts of commitments and everyday life stresses. In their place was a
dreamless, careless sleep.
Effects
of the Color Purple on Thought Patterns:
The
color inspired thoughts about sensory comforts like grapes, warmth, and silk.
The stream of thoughts produced under the influence of this color was somewhat
erratic and stop start; the mind jumped from one subject to another. Common
themes were a sense of entitlement to pleasures and experiences and a distaste
for banal, everyday experiences (ie. Kool-aid). The color also brought to mind
thoughts of wealth, richness and royalty.
Recommendations
for the use of Purple:
Purple
is an excellent recommendation for those in need of material comforts. The
color can produce a sense of pride in oneself and the feeling of deservingness.
Analyses
of Pink Effects:
Effects
of the Color Pink on Movement:
The
color pink led the participant to take diminutive and shy postures. Often, her body
curled in on itself. She took up very little space.
Effects
of the Color Pink on Mood:
The
color pink had a softening effect on the participant. The color allowed for
thoughts and emotions to surface readily. The color also made the participant
more quiet and shy.
Effects
of the Color Pink on Rest:
As the
color allowed for the surfacing of thoughts and emotions, the color was a
distraction during the rest period.
Effects
of the Color Pink on Thought Patterns:
The
color pink brought up thoughts about romantic love and love lost. Interesting,
the color also inspired thoughts about self-love. A common theme was deficiency
(ie. things lost/things lacking). However, there was a strong current of hope,
warmth and optimism running throughout.
Recommendations
for the use of Pink:
Pink
could be used in a therapeutic environment to access thoughts and emotions and
to begin the process of healing. To improve the quality of rest, pink should be
avoided. Pink should also be avoided in very public or social settings, as the
tendencies towards inwardness and shyness within this color may be socially
crippling.
Analyses
of Red Effects:
Effects
of the Color Red on Movement:
The
color red facilitated movement and inspired a wide range of postures including
lounging, twisting, stretching, and standing. The movements were infused with a
range of playfulness and lusty intensity. The effect of the color on the
movement was decidedly erotic.
Effects
of the color Red on Mood:
Before
putting on the red suit, the participant described her mood as calm and
tranquil. After putting on the suit, the participant explained that she was
distracted by lust and felt strange and foreign in her own skin.
Effects
of the Color Red on Rest:
The
participant found resting difficult as she was often distracted by her lust.
Effects
of the Color Red on Thought Patterns:
The
color red made thoughts turn erotic. The participants thoughts were highly
sensory and included erotic objects and themes (including dripping candles,
wine, sounds of love making). Responses also showed a preoccupation with youth,
sin, and the ritual of marriage. Allusions to blood were also prevalent. The
color red seemed to speed up and intensify the thought stream. Like her
movements, the participants responses mixed playfulness with lusty intensity.
Recommendations
for the use of Red:
Red
should be worn to enhance sensory experiences and to improve libido. Red might
also be utilized to improve freedom of movement or to quicken a lethargic mind.
Red should be avoided for those who tend towards verbosity. The red color
should also be avoided before rest periods during which sleep is the central
objective.
Analyses
of Yellow Effects:
Effects
of the Color Yellow on Movement:
The
yellow color inspired quick, fluid, and bright movements. The participant
remained standing upright for the majority of her poses. She was full of energy
and enthusiasm, but became worn out quickly.
Effects
of the Color Yellow on Mood:
The
color inspired a high flow of energy and a sense of hope and liberation. Her
mood was characterized by high emotional release.
Effects
of the Color Yellow on Rest:
The
intense flood of energy that comes with the color yellow made resting a
challenge.
Effects
of the Color Yellow on Thought Patterns:
Yellow
had the effect of inspiring poetic thoughts. The thoughts were related to
social matters, especially love. Her thoughts turned to nature and the
productive, loyal honeybee. The participant showed an interest in honest
expressions of love and breaking free of emotional restrictions and silences.
Recommendations
for the use of Yellow:
The
color yellow may be used as an aid during short periods when high levels of
physical or emotional energy are called for. Yellow can cultivate the highly
productive and loyal honeybee energy. Yellow may be adopted to produce feelings
of liberation and hope. Yellow should be avoided before rest periods. Yellow
must also be used with caution, as the propensity towards energetic burnout
is high while wearing yellow for extended periods.
Discussion
The
findings presented within this paper provide convincing evidence that color
influences movement, mood, rest, and thought patterns. The implications of these
findings are valuable and far-reaching. However, the analyses presented here
offer only a preliminary glimpse at the possibilities for controlling humans
physical and emotional experiences. More research is necessary to discover and
harness the full range of possibilities that exist for controlling our bodies
and minds through the careful use and monitoring of color.