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NR 1-3/2008
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Barwy i ich
znaczenie w kulturze i psychologii – rys historyczny i stan
obecny
Colors and their meaning in
culture and psychology – a historical outline and contemporary
status of color vision theories
Andrzej Grzybowski1, Romana
Lewicka2, Teresa Torlińska2, Bogusław
Stelcer3
1Z Zakładu Historii Nauk Medycznych Uniwersytetu
Medycznego w Poznaniu
Kierownik: prof. dr hab. n. med. Roman Meissner
2Z Pracowni Rytmów Biologicznych Katedry i Zakładu
Fizjologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Poznaniu
Kierownik: prof. dr hab. n. med. Teresa Torlińska
3Z Zakładu Psychologii Klinicznej Uniwersytetu
Medycznego w Poznaniu
Kierownik: dr hab. n. hum. Grażyna Bartkowiak |
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| Summary: |
The mechanism
of color perception has intrigued scholars from
antiquity. However, the understanding of this phenomena
only came with the recognition of the nature of light
and visual perception. Ancient concepts, present in
science until the Renaissance, were based more on
philosophical considerations and theoretical
speculations than on anatomical studies and a
matter-of-fact assessment of physiological functions of
the visual system.
From antiquity to 17th century scientific approach to
the concept of vision was dominated by two theories:
intromission and extramission (emanation). Intromission
theory, propagated by Alhazen (Ibn al.-Haythama),
Vitello, John Peckham, Roger Bacon and Leonardo da
Vinci, assumed that the light was transmitted from the
observed object perpendicularly to the transparent eye
structures.
Johannes Kepler was the first scholar to propose that
the retina was the receptive part of the eye. In the
first half of the 17th century, Kepler’s groundbreaking
optical achievements and anatomical discoveries of many
other scientists cast new light on the understanding of
the role of different eye structures, finally wiping out
the intromission theory. A further major achievement
contributing to the recognition of the true nature of
colors was a theory presented by Newton in 1688. He
argued that they were colored rays, and not white light,
that were composed of homogenous and pure light. It was,
however, not until the 19th century when two modern
theories of color appeared, i.e. a trichromatic theory
mostly associated with the names of Young and Hemlholtz,
and an opponent colors theory of Hering. In the 20th
century, the two theories – previously assumed as
contradictory – were joined into the zone theories of
color vision.
Colors have their cultural and social meanings, as far
as a very individual and personal interpretation. In the
former function they are used to illustrate some
cultural and sociological phenomena; in the latter, they
are helpful in psychological analyses of patients. The
paper outlines major historical concepts of color
perception and the present usefulness of color vision
tests in psychology. |
| Key words: |
History of
color vision, colors in psychology, colors in culture,
color vision. |
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