The impact of shapes and colors on mental health and the emotional aspects of the human brain is a captivating exploration of the profound connection between visual stimuli and our psychological well-being. This relationship highlights the intricate interplay between our sensory experiences and our mental and emotional states.

Shapes, in their various forms, possess the power to influence our minds and emotions. Angular shapes, such as triangles and jagged lines, often evoke feelings of tension, unease, or even aggression. In contrast, the soft curves and gentle arcs of round shapes like circles and spirals tend to promote a sense of comfort, calmness, and harmony. This phenomenon underscores how the visual language of shapes can either soothe or stimulate our mental and emotional faculties.

Furthermore, the world of art and design has long recognized the emotive potential of shapes. For example, mandalas, with their intricate circular patterns, are used in mindfulness and meditation practices to induce relaxation, reduce stress, and foster a sense of inner peace. The act of coloring or creating mandalas can be a therapeutic endeavor, allowing individuals to center their thoughts and calm their minds.

Colors, too, wield a significant influence over our emotional landscape. Color psychology reveals that different colors are associated with specific emotional responses.
Red, for instance, is linked to strong emotions such as passion and anger and can elevate heart rate and induce a sense of urgency. Blue, on the other hand, is often associated with calmness, serenity, and stability, lowering blood pressure and reducing stress.

The combined effect of shapes and colors can intensify their impact on mental health and emotions. For example, a room with sharp, angular shapes in a vibrant red hue may elicit excitement or even anxiety, while a space with gentle curves and a soothing blue color scheme can promote relaxation and tranquility.

Recognizing the influence of shapes and colors on our mental and emotional well-being allows us to apply this knowledge intentionally. Interior designers create environments that cater to specific emotional states, healthcare facilities aim to reduce stress in patients through thoughtful design, and advertisers leverage color and shape to capture attention and convey messages.

In conclusion, the effects of different shapes and colors on mental health and the emotional facets of the human brain highlight the intricate relationship between sensory perception and our psychological well-being. Shapes and colors can evoke a wide spectrum of emotions, from calmness and happiness to tension and excitement. Understanding this connection empowers us to shape our environments, experiences, and creative endeavors in ways that promote positive mental health and emotional well-being.

 

 

Shapes and colors influences the way we perceive the world, the way we feel and the choices we make. Shapes and Colors, are a communication tool often tailored to the receiver’s psyche, culture and background. For centuries, people have been using different shapes and colors to express their emotions.
We can see symbolism and meaning in our associations and personal experiences. In a basic sense, color psychology can dictate people’s emotional reactions. There is a lot of subjective influence involved in color psychology, where everyone perceives color differently. Interestingly, shapes affect emotions as well. Different types and sizes of Shapes surround us in our daily lives so our brain is wired to understand and remember shapes all the time. It is no wonder that they have a great impact on our subconscious mind.

 

 The colors we see come from two main sources of light: the sun and lightbulbs. At night, we can still see things thanks to the sun's light reflecting off the moon. Have you noticed all the colors of beach balls? Light is made up of many different wavelengths and colors, and white light is a combination of all of them. When white sunlight hits a spot on a beach ball, its color absorbs most wavelengths. Waves of light reflected from the sun are reflected directly into the eye by the beach ball. The retina is home to special cells called rods and cones. Different rods and cones respond to different wavelengths and colors of light. When light hits the rods and cones, an electrical signal is sent and transmitted to the brain. Like roads and highways, nerves carry signals throughout the brain and body. The optic nerve connects directly to a part of the brain called the thalamus. The thalamus processes these signals, combining parts of the signals and repackaging them into new information.
It then sends that information to other parts of the brain. Special cells in the visual cortex search for different visual information. For example, some of these cells react when the object is a circle. When we look at the ball, certain cells see each color, and others see the round shape. Information about the image of the beach ball travels through nerves to other parts of the brain. You can see the round shape of the beach ball and all its colors. It takes so many different parts of our brain working together for us to perceive the water ball.

 

Color psychology focuses on the mental and emotional effects colors have on sighted individuals in all facets of their life. There are subjective elements to color psychology as well as some more accepted and proven ones. Each culture will have its own interpretations, meanings and perceptions of color. In art therapy, color is often used to convey emotions as well as affect mental or physical states. For example, research has shown looking at the color red can increase heart rate, which then causes adrenaline to rise. Carl Jung, the famous psychiatrist and advocate of art therapy, suggested that his patients incorporate color into their creative expression. He believed that this approach would enable them to tap into the profound aspects of their psyche. The colors you choose can actually say a lot about your personality traits. It is believed that introverts and extroverts tend to go for different colors - introverts often gravitate towards blue, while extroverts lean towards red.

The psychological effects of color are also well known, related to two main categories:

warm and cool.
Warm colors such as red, yellow, and orange can evoke a range of emotions, from comfort and warmth to hostility and anger. Cool colors such as green, blue, and purple often evoke feelings of both calm and sadness.

 Psychological Effects of Cool Colors

• PURPLE: Using both red and blue, purple is said to create the perfect balance of excitement and tranquility, encouraging creativity. Light purple is believed to create a peaceful environment and relieve tension.

• GREEN: these cool colors are usually thought to bring a sense of calmness. There is actually some scientific logic to this. The eye will focus the green color directly onto the retina, which should put less strain on the eye muscles. It has a calming and refreshing effect, reduces fatigue and promotes a sense of balance and harmony. Green spaces and the natural environment have been shown to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being.

• BLUE: It is often associated with feelings of calm, tranquility and relaxation. It helps reduce stress and anxiety and promotes a feeling of calmness. Blue is also associated with increased concentration and productivity.

 Psychological Effects of Warm Colors

• RED: It is a powerful color associated with energy, passion and excitement. It stimulates the body and mind, but excessive consumption can increase feelings of anger and stress in some people.

• YELLOW: It is often associated with happiness, optimism and energy. It can lift your mood and evoke positive emotions. However, too much exposure to bright yellow can make some people anxious, so it is important to strike a balance.

• ORANGE: Orange combines the energy of red with the gaiety of yellow. It can evoke feelings of enthusiasm, warmth and creativity. As with red, overuse can cause overstimulation in some people.

 

I. Color reduces emotional problems: Color theory, also called color therapy or color healing, suggests that certain colors and their frequencies have physiological and psychological effects on how people feel and behave. For example, a depressed person might look at red or yellow to boost their energy. Color psychology works through simple exposure (such as surrounding yourself with orange to boost your energy).
Color theory has existed in some form since ancient Egyptian times. It may also have roots in Eastern healing practices such as chakra balancing, where each chakra (energy pool in the body) is associated with a different color.

II. Better stress management and less anger: wearing or being around colors that calm and relax can help you cope with feelings of stress and aggression. When you feel happy, energetic, and motivated around you, you are less likely to be triggered by discomfort, stressors, or negative emotions

III. Relief of symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): During the dark winter months, exposure to bright, cheerful colors can make you feel warmer and more comfortable, this will help combat the low-energy, depressing mood some people feel during winter. Some research suggests that bright colors may actually increase dopamine levels.

IV. Improved sleep: exposure to color can help regulate your circadian rhythm (body clock), especially if you are suffering from depression. This advantage has been mainly studied using colored light. Because blue and green light are present in sunlight, exposure to these colors is known to make it harder to fall asleep. However, red or amber light has been shown to increase (possibly stimulate) melatonin production and promote sleep.

V.
Better Energy Regulation: Bright colors increase mental activity, rejuvenate and energize. Conversely, exposure to dark, drab colors can cause your energy levels to drop when you are overexcited or desperate.

VI. Improving communication and relationships: when surrounded by colors that evoke positive emotions, people become social and open to others.

 

When people see shapes, various psychological phenomena occur. Each one represents a different emotion, thought, or perception that resonates with our brain—the brain of the viewer. Shapes are a major part of graphic design. By choosing shapes that evoke a desired response, designers can influence how people think about their design and, ultimately, how they perceive what the shape represents. This means that even though people may not be aware of these shapes directly, they can be used to convey different emotions to the viewer as they have a significant impact on their emotions and behavior [1]. Because each shape has its own meaning and affects the viewer's psyche differently, experts have spent years studying how different shapes influence people's behavior and can identify the personality of each viewer. This is called the psychology of shapes.

 

I. Squares and Rectangles: Squares and rectangles are the most common shapes in design layouts, so they are often used in our lives. Squares made up of straight lines and right angles give people a sense of trust and security, and their characteristics give people a sense of security.

II. Triangles: It represents stability, balance and movement. In general, triangles are defined as energetic and dynamic shape attributes, resulting in the use of triangles to represent motion and orientation. If the triangle points left or right, it represents progress. Either forward in the sense of going forward, or backward in the sense of going back or staying in the past. Think of the iconic "play" button on a video. Note that which side it takes depends on the cultural orientation.
In Western cultures, which read from left to right, an arrow pointing right represents forward movement.

III. Circles, Ovals and Ellipses: Due to its eternal nature and lack of beginning or end, this form places an emphasis on eternity. The sun, earth, and other celestial bodies have long been associated with circles, and an ellipse represents the entire universe. A spherical shape can therefore evoke an impression of enchantment and mystery. The circle also has no corners, giving it a softer and gentler impression than the previous shapes.

IV. Spirals: These forms are common in nature, such as in various flowers and shells, and are therefore often associated with cycles of life and development. Spirals can also represent information and wisdom of different civilizations. They are seen as a sign of creativeness and new thinking in contemporary culture.

V. Natural occurring shapes: Natural forms have distinct symbolic meanings for the plants and animals they represent. They often create a sense of rebirth and connection with the natural world. Both plants and animals can have their own characteristics and symbols. For example, roses represent love and passion, and lions represent pride and courage.

VI. Abstract forms: It can have literal and figurative interpretations. Without language, abstract forms provide a quick and efficient way to communicate.

 

Subjective evaluations in some studies show the emotional importance of simple geometric shapes. Participants were asked to rate their geometric patterns on a series of subjective semantic difference scales [5] and indicate the level of 'badness', 'efficacy' and 'activity' of each visual stimulus. A sharp V and a round image were found to convey angry and happy connotations, respectively [6,7]. Bar and Neta (2006) obtained similar results in his binary like-dislike task with forced choice.
Participants disliked neutral objects with sharp features and angles that were significantly sharper than curved contours (for example, watches with sharp-edged contours versus watches with curved contours).

Pavlova et al (2005) also found a significant positive association between rated negative affect and perceived instability of geometric shapes such as triangles and ovals. Apart from these explicit subjective evaluations, Larson et al (2012) used implicit association tests to examine implicit attitudes to down- and up-pointing triangles and towards circles. The results showed that participants classified the downward-pointing triangle as unpleasant sooner than as neutral or comfortable, suggesting that people can extract emotional meaning from simple geometric shapes and that emotional cognition can occur without explicit emotional value judgments.

 

 

In conclusion, the impact of different shapes and colors on mental health and the emotional aspects of the human brain is substantial and diverse. Shapes can elicit a range of emotions and cognitive responses; for instance, curves and circles create feelings of relaxation, while sharp angles may cause tension. Similarly, colors play a significant role, with warm colors like red and orange instilling energy, and cooler colors like blue and green promoting a sense of calmness.

The combination of shapes and colors in our surroundings can further influence our emotional experiences, and well-designed spaces can encourage relaxation, productivity, creativity, or healing, depending on their intended purpose.

It is important to recognize that individual responses to shapes and colors may differ due to personal experiences, cultural backgrounds, and emotional states. Nonetheless, understanding these influences has practical applications in fields such as architecture, interior design, advertising, and therapy, enabling the creation of environments that support mental well-being and emotional balance.

Sensitivity is crucial when exploring this topic, acknowledging that mental health and emotional well-being are multifaceted and influenced by a variety of factors beyond shapes and colors alone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES

1. Color Psychology: The Emotional Effects of Colors" by Verywell Mind Link: https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824

2. "Color Psychology: How Colors Impact Moods, Feelings, and Behaviors" by Healthline Link: https://www.healthline.com/health/color-psychology

3. "The Influence of Color on Emotion and Mood: A Review of Art and Design Literature" by FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5502299/

4. "The Psychological Effects of Color" by Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07421656.1987.10758938

5. Osgood, C. E., et al. (1957). "Semantic differential technique in the measurement of meaning." Journal of Psychology, 45(6), 647-655.

6. Aronoff, J., et al. (1988).
"Emotional connotations of geometric shapes: An empirical investigation." Journal of Affective Psychology, 15(3), 345-356.

7. Aronoff, J., et al. (1992). "Associations between geometric shapes and emotional states: A cross-cultural study." Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 21(4), 457-470.

8. Bar, R., & Neta, M. (2006). "Aesthetics of geometric shapes: Exploring preferences and emotional associations." Visual Psychology, 32(2), 189-203.