Mood rings first became popular in the 1970s as a fun way to get a glimpse into someone’s emotions. The rings change colors based on body temperature to indicate the wearer’s mood. Each color is associated with a different emotional state.
How Mood Rings Work
Mood rings contain thermochromic liquid crystals that are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature. The crystals change color at different temperatures. When worn on the finger, the ring responds to even tiny fluctuations in body temperature that result from changes in emotion.
Here’s a quick overview of how mood rings work:
- Thermochromic liquid crystals inside the ring change color based on temperature changes.
- When worn on the finger, the ring detects subtle shifts in body temperature.
- These body temperature changes correspond to different emotional states.
- The color the ring displays reflects the wearer’s mood.
While mood rings can’t perfectly gauge emotions, they do provide an entertaining way to get a general sense of someone’s mood based on the color displayed.
Yellow on a Mood Ring
So what does it mean when your mood ring turns yellow? Here’s an overview of the yellow color on mood rings:
- Yellow signifies a middle emotional state, between happy and frustrated.
- It corresponds to body temperatures around 89-90°F or 31-32°C.
- Associated moods include calm, satisfied, relaxed, and peaceful.
- Yellow is a positive color indicating contentment without intense emotion.
When your mood ring turns yellow, it suggests you’re in a moderately positive emotional state. You’re not overly excited or angry, but generally relaxed and calm. Some specific moods associated with yellow include:
Calm
Yellow represents a peaceful, tranquil mood. When you’re feeling calm, your emotions are stable. You can think clearly and aren’t overcome by strong feelings of anxiety, anger, excitement, or sadness. A yellow mood ring signals your body and mind are relaxed.
Satisfied
The color yellow reflects contentment and satisfaction. You may not be overflowing with joy, but you have a quiet sense of fulfillment. Things are going pretty well and there’s little to complain about. Overall, you’re pleased with how your life is progressing.
Relaxed
A yellow mood ring can also indicate a relaxed state. You feel at ease instead of stressed. Your muscles are free of tension and your mind is clear. You’re able to unwind without a care in the world. Yellow signifies a laid-back, peaceful mood.
Hopeful
In addition to calm emotions, yellow can also signify more uplifting feelings like hope, optimism, and confidence. With yellow, you’re positive about the future without getting carried away. You feel hopeful and upbeat without intense excitement.
Other Colors
To fully understand what yellow represents, it helps to know what the other mood ring colors mean:
| Color | Temperature | Mood |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Below 82°F/28°C | Stressed, anxious, nervous |
| Blue | 82-84°F/28-29°C | Relaxed, calm |
| Green | 84-86°F/29-30°C | Normal, no strong emotions |
| Yellow | 89-90°F/31-32°C | Happy, positive, hopeful |
| Orange | 90-92°F/32-33°C | Excited, passionate |
| Red | 92-93°F/33-34°C | Happy, lovestruck, aroused |
| Brown | 93-96°F/34-36°C | Nervous, anxious, stressed |
As the table shows, yellow falls right in the middle, representing positive emotions that aren’t too intense. Other colors like blue and green indicate more neutral relaxed states, while orange, red, and brown correspond to high arousal states like excitement, passion, and anxiety.
What Impacts Mood Ring Color?
Keep in mind that many factors other than mood can impact a mood ring’s color, including:
- Room temperature – Cold rooms will make the ring darker.
- Blood flow – Decreased circulation makes the color darker.
- Weather – Hot, humid days lead to lighter colors.
- Stress – Anxiety causes the color to go dark.
- Activity level – Exercise warms the body so the color is lighter.
- Finger size – The ring is less accurate on large fingers.
While mood does influence body temperature, many other variables can impact the accuracy. Take mood ring colors as rough estimates rather than definitive readings. Focus more on how the colors change throughout the day for an individual rather than comparing absolute colors between different people.
A Brief History of Mood Rings
Now that you know what yellow means, let’s provide some background on the origin of mood rings. Here’s a quick history:
- 1970s – Mood rings first became popular as a fad jewelry item.
- 1975 – Joshua Reynolds co-patented the mood ring design.
- Liquid crystals in rings changed color based on temperature.
- Each color supposedly corresponded to a different mood or emotion.
- 1980s – Popularity as a fad faded but rings are still made today.
The concept for mood rings developed in the late 1960s when Maris Ambats, a jewelry wholesaler, read about liquid crystals that changed color based on temperature. He partnered with Joshua Reynolds, an inventor, to create prototype rings using the technology.
They patented the mood ring in 1975 and started manufacturing the rings. Reynolds marketed the mood rings as a way to get a glimpse into your emotions. He developed color charts that linked specific colors to purported emotional states.
Mood rings had a surge of popularity in the 1970s as a novelty item and fashion statement. Rings marketed as “mood rings” were in high demand. While interest waned in subsequent decades, affordable versions of the rings are still produced and sold today.
Do Mood Rings Really Work?
Mood rings remain a fun novelty item, but should you really rely on them to reveal your inner emotional state? Here are some pros and cons:
Pros
- May reflect general positive vs. negative moods
- Can indicate changes in mood over time for one person
- Color variations draw attention to your shifting emotions
- Fun item if you don’t take the colors too seriously
Cons
- Many non-mood factors affect color
- No rigorous scientific research on accuracy
- Hard to interpret exact mood from a single color
- Colors vary between different manufacturers
Research has not proven a consistent, reliable correlation between specific mood ring colors and emotions. But the rings do change color in response to temperature fluctuations that may loosely align with mood changes. The main value may simply be making you more observant of your shifting emotional states throughout the day.
Conclusion
When your mood ring turns yellow, it suggests you are feeling moderately upbeat but not experiencing intense emotions. The color yellow corresponds to a temperature of around 89-90°F/31-32°C and is associated with positive moods like calm, relaxation, and hopefulness. While mood rings have limitations, they can provide an entertaining way to tune into your changing emotions.