In the final post on my series on the useful theories of psychoanalysis I end with some current thinking and practice which has evolved since attachment theory. In essence there has been a movement from classical psychoanalysis towards a more relational and...
The Colours of Life
John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory
John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory Attachment Theory is a well-known and widely accepted concept in human development and psychotherapy. British psychiatrist John Bowlby developed it in the 1950s. The crux of attachment theory is that the early emotional bonds between...
The Helpful Ideas of Donald Winnicott
The Helpful Ideas of Donald Winnicott Continuing my series on the founders of psychoanalysis I'm exploring Donald Winnicott this month. Donald Winnicott (1896-1971) was a paediatrician who then trained as a psychoanalyst, first to adults and later to...
The Importance of Melanie Klein
The Importance of Melanie Klein Melanie Klein was a groundbreaking and highly creative psychoanalyst. She was born in 1882 in Vienna but spent most of her life in UK, dying in London in 1960. Her life was fascinating, with many losses and tragedies but...
Carl Jung – Is He Relevant Today?
Carl Jung – Is He Relevant Today? Carl Gustav Jung was born into a religious family in Switzerland and studied to be a doctor. During these studies he became fascinated with current philosophy, anthropology and psychological theories and work in...
How Freud Is Still Relevant Today
How Freud Is Still Relevant Today Prompted by last month’s blog on Narcissism, this is the first in a series on some of the founding members in psychoanalysis and some of their ideas, many of which, I believe, are still useful for us today. Widely...
Narcissism
Narcissism The term 'narcissism' is banded around a lot. But what does being a narcissist actually mean? And how do we work out if we are in a relationship with one, or even if we might be one ourselves? Origins of Narcissism The term narcissism comes from...
The Art of Self-soothing 4: Using Our Senses
Using Our Senses This final post in my series is about using our bodily senses to self-soothe. There are lots of ways that we can self-sooth by looking. Sight Natural Vistas As I’ve already mentioned in a previous post, nature and landscapes are very calming. For...
The Art of Self-soothing 3: Creativity
Creativity is a sure way to self-soothe. People have lost themselves in creative pursuits since time began. Getting in touch with our creativity is a way of reaching something within ourselves. By allowing this to develop we can usually make something bigger than...
The Art of Self-Soothing 2: Nature
This month’s way to self soothe is by being in nature. It’s long been known and proven that being outside and preferably in nature can improve our mental health. Take a Short Walk The simplest ways are often the most effective. Such as going for a short walk from your...
During Autumn, in between the rainy spells, it’s good to get outside and appreciate the changing foliage around us. Autumnal colours are warm and earthy. The burgundy of a conker. The bright orange of pumpkin flesh. The rich browns and reds of falling leaves.
Colours are an important part of our life, whether they are in nature, our clothing, our home decoration or our food.
We choose colours for many different reasons, consciously and unconsciously. Darker, sombre colours for when we feel down or tired. A splash of red for confidence in our outfit for a job interview or date. Shades of green as a relaxing colour for our living space.
Colours of the rainbow
The beauty of colours in nature can have a profoundly positive effect on us, lifting our spirits and grounding us in the here and now. As children we experience a rainbow as something very special. The story of Noah and the flood is important to Muslims, Jews and Christians alike. Furthermore, this year like at the end of the flood, we’ve seen the rainbow represent gratitude and hope in the pandemic.
Colours and personality types
Historically colours have been used to distinguish personality types. In Ancient Greece, Hippocrates categorised people into one of four personality types based on the proportion of their bodily fluids. By the early 20th century the psychoanalyst and psychiatrist Carl Jung had developed Hippocrates’ theory into four personality types based on colour. According to Jung, people’s personalities are, broadly speaking, either red, yellow, blue or green:
- Red personality types are typically bold and ambitious
- Yellow personality types are cheerful and positive
- Blue personality types are typically more relaxed and calm
- Green personality types are caring and hopeful
The Myers-Briggs personality test and the Insights Discovery Method are contemporary developments of Jung’s colour types which are used in corporate settings worldwide today. Personally, I think that someone’s personality is more complex than just being defined by one or two categories. Although such tests are useful places to start thinking more about our internal worlds and how we think, feel and behave.
colours and diversity
Importantly, as well as people’s various internal worlds of personality colour types we also have the external palette of our different coloured hair, skin and features. Diversity makes life interesting. As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. Undoubtedly by embracing all colours, in every aspect of our life, we live a richer and rewarding one.