PSYb1600 The psychology of color

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Miroslav Šipula (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Miroslav Šipula
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Miroslav Šipula
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 14:00–15:40 U42
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 28/30, only registered: 2/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course has two basic objectives:

1. Students will understand basic theoretical and methodological approaches to research of the relationship between a man and a color. They will be able to analyze the advantages and lacks of published research work. The aim of the presentation of a selected research work is to prepare the participant for his/her own independent research project in the field of the color psychology.

2. The same emphasis will be placed on reflection of his/her own relationship to color, self-reflection and individual experience in an interaction with color. A personal experience, color associations, general rules and limits of generalization of the individual experience will be monitored.

This is the main part of the course syllabus. The whole syllabus containing a list of particular terms, instructions and recommended literature is available (in Czech) - in the "Study materials" directory in the Information System of MU.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. understand main concepts, concept relations, specific color phenomena, theoretical approaches, and theories in the field of psychology of color, mentioned below; to understand, differentiate and use precisely the terminology in the field of the color psychology

2. to explore the complex phenomenon of a color from multiple points of view (general psychology, social psychology, cultural psychology, psychodiagnostics, medicine, psychotherapy, philosophy...; introspection & psychological research...)

3. to understand, describe and identify the role of individuality and subjectivity in relation to a color, subjectivity of it's connotative meaning, specificity and general principles of the color-perception process, the color impression and the human response

4. to identify and analyze hidden dimensions of color impression

5. to critically appraise main theoretical/diagnostic approaches to color and affective experience related to color; to critically appraise research methodology in the field of color psychology

6. to apply the aquired knowledge and skills during the process of designing a research project or solving a practical problem (e. g. designing a color interior for a specific purpose);

7. to spontaneously examine/evaluate/differentiate arguments relevant and non-relevant to a specific problem in the field of color psychology

This is the main part of the course syllabus. The whole syllabus containing a list of particular terms, instructions and recommended literature is available (in Czech) - in the "Study materials" directory in the Information System of MU.
Syllabus
  • 1. Explanation of color vision
  • - color in physics, physiology and psychology of color vision, color in the brain, additive and subtractive coloring, number of distinct colors, color deficiencies, types and prevalence, simulation of color appearance for individuals with color vision deficiency, psychological primary colors, theories of color vision, typical phenomena in field of color psychology (e. g. color induction, negative afterimages, McCollough effect and role of higher cognitive processes), color schemes in terms of physics, a logic in/of color systems, colors of nature (e. g. aerial perspective), role of shadow and gloss, color contrasts and ir psychological effects, lighting-workplace-mood relation...
  • 2. Social level
  • - categorization of colors, problem of universality and specificity of colors and color names in different cultures, universality of color terms and evolution (B. Berlin and P. Kay), color symbolism, color associations/connocations, synesthesia (chromessia) and contemporary findings; importance to thinking and communication, application possibilities in the field of ergonomics, color in visual arts, religion...
  • 3. Level of psychological research of colors
  • - color preference - its nature and meaning, development of knowledge, color preference and color (psychological) diagnosis and limits of ir utilization, Lüscher color theory and it's criticisms, K. Warner Schaie, his color theory and metaanalysis of color research, The Color Pyramid Test, color preference and ontogenesis, general tendencies in color preference, relation of color preference to personality traits (temperaments, individual circadian rhythms, gender,...), color research in sports, color as a stimulus triggering reflex, influence of color (of figure or ground) on test performance, influence of color on arousal level, color and commercial sphere, color and workplace; ...and examples of other main research directions in field of color psychology
  • 4. Application of color psychology
  • - color in clothing and psychological effects, mechanisms of a color typology, colors in an environment - architecture, interiors,...
  • 5. Colors "differently"
  • - qualia, colors in language, proverbs, similes, metaphors; color "below surface of things", color in "esoteric" literature, a consensus and differences in a confrontation with scientific approach, myths and false beliefs in color psychology...
  • This is main part of course syllabus. whole syllabus containing a list of particular terms, instructions and recommended literature will be available (in Czech) - in folder "Study materials" in Information System of MU.
  • This is the main part of the course syllabus. The whole syllabus containing a list of particular terms, instructions and recommended literature is available (in Czech) - in the "Study materials" directory in the Information System of MU.
Literature
  • Handbook of color psychology. Edited by Mark D. Fairchild - Andrew J. Elliot - Anna Franklin. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 2015, xxii, 740. ISBN 9781107043237. info
  • ŠIKL, Radovan. Zrakové vnímání. 1. vydání. Praha: Grada Publishing, 2012, 312 stran. ISBN 9788024730295. URL info
  • GAGE, John. Color and meaning : art, science, and symbolism. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000, 320 s. ISBN 0520226119. info
  • Color categories in thought and language. Edited by C. L. Hardin - Luisa Maffi. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997, x, 404. ISBN 0521498007. info
  • ZOLLINGER, Heinrich. Color :a multidisciplinary approach. Zürich: Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta, 1999, x, 258 s. ISBN 3-906390-18-7. info
  • BIRREN, Faber. Color & human response : aspects of light and color bearing on the reactions of living things and the welfare of human beings. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1978, vi, 141. ISBN 0471288640. info
  • MAHNKE, Frank H. Color, environment, and human response : an interdisciplinary understanding of color and its use as a beneficial element in the desing of the architectural environment. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996, xii, 234. ISBN 0471286672. info
  • ITTEN, Johannes. The elements of color : a treatise on the color system. Edited by Faber Birren, Translated by Ernst van Hagen. New York: John Willey and Sons, 2003, 95 s. ISBN 0471289299. info
  • TYE, Michael. Consciousness, color, and content. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2000, xiii, 198. ISBN 0262201291. info
Teaching methods
1. Lectures with a number of empirical examples and excercises
2. Introspective methods
3.
Thematic in-class discussions
4. Homeworks (analysis of impression dimensions, application project, etc.)
5. Thematic in-class discussions
6. Student presentations
7. Research project (design) or practical application project

This is the main part of the course syllabus. The whole syllabus containing a list of particular terms, instructions and recommended literature is available (in Czech) - in the "Study materials" directory in the Information System of MU.
Assessment methods
A credit is granted for:

1. Active participation in lessons
2. 4 homeworks
3. An essay (a design of a research project, a practical application project) or a student presentation on selected topic

This is the main part of the course syllabus. The whole syllabus containing a list of particular terms, instructions and recommended literature is available (in Czech) - in the "Study materials" directory in the Information System of MU.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Pro otevření kurzu je potřeba minimálně 10 zapsaných studentů.
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/1423/podzim2019/PSY160/
This is the main part of the course syllabus. The whole syllabus containing a list of particular terms, instructions and recommended literature is available (in Czech) - in the "Study materials" directory in the Information System of MU. https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/fss/podzim2019/PSYb1600/
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
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