Many people develop strong attachments to particular colors over the course of their lives. While our favorite colors often change as we move through different stages of life, some of us form lasting bonds with specific shades that seem to resonate deeply with our personalities. If you have found yourself fixated on the color purple, you are not alone. Purple obsession is common, and there are many potential reasons why this rich, royal color captivates certain people more than others. By examining the unique properties of the color purple and what it symbolizes, we can better understand why someone might develop a strong preference for it.
The Psychological Draw of the Color Purple
Research has shown that our favorite colors have ties to our personalities. So what does it mean if you are particularly drawn to the color purple? Here are some of the key characteristics associated with purple fans:
– Creative – Those who love purple tend to be imaginative, artistic, and thoughtful. Purple evokes creativity and magic.
– Sensitive – People obsessed with purple often have high emotional sensitivity. Purple relates to spirituality and deeper meaning.
– Unconventional – Purple lovers tend to think outside the box and appreciate novelty. The unusual shade stands out.
– Royal – Fans of purple may desire luxury experiences. Purple has long been associated with royalty.
– Mystical – Purple obsessives tend to enjoy the mystical and magical side of life. Purple symbolizes the mysterious.
So in essence, being fixated on purple often correlates with being a visionary, emotionally deep, quirky, regal, and attracted to the spiritual. If those descriptors resonate with your personality, it makes sense that you gravitate toward the color purple more than the average person.
The Soothing Properties of Purple
Why does purple appeal so strongly to the creative, emotional mind? The soothing qualities of purple likely play a key role. Studies have found that exposure to purple light can have a calming, mood-boosting effect. The color purple is thought to release stress, alleviate anxiety, and bring harmony. This could explain why sensitive, artistic personality types are consistently attracted to this mesmerizing shade. The serene properties of purple simply appeal to their inner state. The color seems to have meditative and restorative qualities for those who are drawn to it.
Childhood and Cultural Associations with Purple
In addition to personality, our early and cultural associations with colors contribute to our preferences. If you have fond memories connected to the color purple from childhood, for example using purple crayons to draw or playing with purple toys, this can cement an early attachment. Purple might also remind you of a beloved childhood blanket or favorite stuffed animal. Culturally, associations with purple also differ around the world and across generations. In multiple eras, purple dye was extremely rare and prized. Purple garments became synonymous with immense wealth and royalty. While purple is more commonplace today, some still view it as elite, magical and special. Their draw to purple relates to positive cultural meanings ascribed to this tone.
Notable Properties of the Color Purple
Beyond personality factors and past associations, there are some defining characteristics of purple itself that make it stand out in a sea of color options. Here are a few reasons why purple obsession is surging:
Unique Hue
Purple occupies a very specific portion of the visible spectrum of light. It exists between blue and red wavelengths, making it relatively rare compared to other hues. This rarity gives purple an exotic, distinctive quality that sets it apart.
Sense of Luxury
Shades of purple often appear lavish and upscale. Dark purples resemble fine velvet, while pale purples take on a delicate, ethereal quality. The luxury factor draws purple fans desiring beauty.
Blends and Gradations
Purple offers seemingly endless blend possibilities, with lighter lilacs and lavenders on one end and deeper eggplants and wines on the other. Exploring purple gradients and shades provides visual intrigue.
Complementary Colors
Purple complements both warm and cool tones beautifully. It pairs effortlessly with red, pink, orange, yellow, blue, green and more. This versatility makes it a favorite among designers and artists.
Rare in Nature
While common synthetically today, true purple rarely appears in the natural world. This scarcity in nature adds to its mystical allure. When it does appear naturally, it’s striking. Think purple Aurora Borealis displays, distant nebulae, or vibrant purple flowers on remote mountainsides.
Notable Figures and Characters Associated with Purple
In addition to its inherent aesthetic appeal, purple has strong ties to many cultural figures, fictional characters, and entities that further fuel its allure for devoted fans. A few of the key purple associations include:
Royalty – Kings, queens, emperors and empresses often donned purple garments and ruled from purple thrones as symbols of nobility.
Deities – In multiple religions, deities hold purple objects or appear draped in purple clothing. Purple retains divine symbolism.
Willy Wonka – The purple suit and top hat of this beloved Roald Dahl character sparked imagination.
The Joker – Batman’s nemesis prominently wears purple as his signature color of chaos and madness.
Dora the Explorer – The spunky children’s character’s purple backpack is central to her adventures.
Purple People Eater – This 1950’s novelty song cemented the silly concept of a fun purple monster.
Unique Properties of Specific Purple Pigments and Dyes
When examining purple obsession, it helps to dive into the characteristics of key pigments and dyes that create different purple shades. Each imparts its own distinct properties. Here are a few of the most significant purple colorants and their traits:
Tyrian Purple – Made from sea snails, this legendary dye was prized for its richness. It signified immense wealth and prestige.
Manganese Purple – This vibrant inorganic pigment dates to the Neolithic era. Its intensity and permanence appeal to artists.
Orchid Extract – Delicate purple dyes derived from orchid petals and roots create ethereal purples.
Lithol Rubine Pigment – This synthetic organic purple pigment is valued for its stability and bold color strength.
Dioxazine Purple – Dioxazine violet pigments produce deep, resilient purples with subtle texture.
Han Purple – This ancient synthetic barium copper silicate pigment from China has an alluring lavender-blue hue.
The specific purple pigment or dye used impacts the resulting tone and texture. Fascination with the qualities imparted by certain purple colorants adds to its mystique and appeal.
Analysis of Purple in Key Artworks
Looking at how iconic artists have used the color purple provides further insight into its compelling nature. Let’s analyze a few celebrated purple-heavy paintings:
The Starry Night by Van Gogh – Swirling purple nebulae in the sky create an awe-inspiring cosmic vista.
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Klimt – Ethereal purple reflections add intrigue to the golden portrait of a cultured woman.
Purple Rain by Manet – Delicate purple rain falls over a verdant park scene, tinting the landscape in twilight atmosphere.
Vase with Twelve Sunflowers by Van Gogh – Vibrant purple irises complement bright yellow sunflowers, demonstrating purple’s complementary power.
The Kiss by Klimt – Regal gold and purple patterns intertwine two lovers, suggesting purple’s luxurious, romantic qualities.
In each of these renowned works, purple takes on symbolic meaning related to the environment, subject, story, or mood being conveyed. The artists knew purple’s ability to convey beauty, emotion, and mystery.
Scientific Properties of Purple Light and Wavelengths
Part of what makes purple so intriguing is its unique place on the visible light spectrum. Violet light, the shortest wavelength of visible light closest to ultraviolet, has the following key properties:
Wavelength Range – Approximately 380-450 nanometers
Frequency – Around 668-789 terahertz
Energy – Roughly 2.75-3.26 electronvolts
Light on the short wavelength, high frequency violet/purple end of the spectrum packs higher energy yet still remains visible to us. This rare intersection of light and color accounts for the stimulating, yet calming and mystical effect of true violet and purple hues. Our eyes perceive these wavelengths as a crossroads between the visible and the unseen.
Psychology of Color Perception as it Relates to Purple
The psychological study of how we mentally process color also reveals clues about the allure of purple. Key perceptions include:
Object Constancy – Our brains retain color memory. Once purple is connected to key memories or experiences, those associations are ingrained.
Color Psychology – Research shows colors like purple trigger emotional responses. These responses differ based on context and individual differences.
Synesthesia – Some brains merge color perception across sense, like seeing sounds as purple. This adds stronger meaning to the color.
Personal Preference – We are drawn to colors we find visually pleasing, calming, stimulating or emotionally resonant. Purple rates highly for certain personalities.
Contextual Learning – In cultures where purple holds symbolic meaning, those associations get integrated mentally early on.
The mind’s perception is key. If someone’s brain interprets purple as beautiful, mystical or creatively stimulating, this ingrains obsession.
Evolutionary Explanations for Purple Allure
Some evolutionary psychologists think our draw towards colorful things like purple relate back to ripe fruit recognition in primate ancestors. Brilliant purple helped our predecessors spot nutritious ripe fruits against green forest foliage. Additionally, human attraction to novelty and extremes could drive us towards more rarely-occurring colors like vivid purples. This hardwired food recognition and curiosity towards the novel or unusual might help explain why vivid purple tones stand out.
Conclusion
Obsession with the color purple has many perfect storm conditions. The inherent properties of light combined with the psychology of color perception, early and cultural associations, and personality preferences converge to give this regal hue near-magical appeal for certain individuals. If purple stimulates and inspires you more than other colors, you are not alone. Embrace your violet streak proudly. Surrounding yourself with purple accents and artwork can enrich the atmosphere. But don’t overlook the qualities of other hues, as our color preferences often change throughout our lives. Stay open to the entire rainbow.
