The History of Colour Analysis + Personality Characteristics – And Why It Matters

There is a link between someone’s colouring and their personality. I know – crazy right? There is in fact a direct link between whether someone is Cool and Muted (a Summer) and the personality characteristics that they exhibit. How do we know this and what does it mean for you? Continue reading to find out more!

A Brief History of Colour Personality

It began over 2,400 years ago with the Greek physician Hippocrates. Hippocrates studied human behaviour very closely and subsequently produced a theory that characterized people as being one of four main temperaments. They are:

1. Phlegmatic (slow moving) – corresponds with Cool and Muted or Summer
2. Melancholic (a worrier) – corresponds with Cool and Clear or Winter
3. Sanguine (Animated) – corresponds with Warm and Clear or Spring
4. Choleric (Assertive) – corresponds with Warm and Muted or Fall

Within a contemporary context, the four basic colour seasons (Warm and Muted, etc.) fit well with Hippocrates’ theory. Needless to say, typically a person is a blend of these traits, exhibiting one dominant trait with one or two subordinate traits.

Fast-forward to the 1980’s in California to observe Angela Wright’s research. A noted colour psychologist, Dr. Wright discovered links between patterns human behaviour and patterns of colour. She had duplicated earlier findings by Johannes Itten, a Swiss artist who found a link between the way his students looked, their personality and the colours that they chose to work with. Itten also found that when students were allowed to chose their own colours, they produced their best work. Wright had also found the same links between the four personality types with the found colour families.

Cool, But, So What?

Does this affect you? If yes, how so? How will knowing this information help you look and feel your best, every day? Firstly, merely understanding that there is a link between your colouring and personality might reveal the importance and significance of colour and how it affects you. Secondly, when a person wears a colour that doesn’t suit them – which we all want to do from time to time – it throws off that person’s energy; it does not suit their personality. When this happens, chances are you don’t feel quite like yourself. You may feel tired (or be told that you look tired), sickly, or dull. Your skin may appear blotchy or saggy. You may even stand a little shorter. Colours have the capability to throw us off entirely, which is why it is so important to know yours, and know what they mean!

For information on how you can get to know your colouring, feel free to check out our Course on Professional Appearance, our Lunch and Learns and read up on our in-house Toronto Image Consultants!