Psychologists in Washington, DC have discovered that a preference for a certain color can reveal hidden psychological problems, including psychopathy and depression. According to scientists, people who like blue are more likely to experience mental problems. Psychopaths prefer blue as do depressed people.
The connection between color and mental health was first identified in 1961, when psychologists found that more than 40% of psychiatric patients reported blue as their favorite color. More recent research confirms these findings. Authors of a 2017 study in China revealed that depressed patients tended to prefer cool colors such as blue and purple, and after therapy began to prefer lighter and warmer colors such as yellow.
“Blue is universally loved for its ability to calm the body, lower the heart rate and relieve stress. Looking at a blue sky or ocean provides a sense of security and stability to those seeking focus, calm or emotional balance.” psychologist Marc Nemiroff from George Washington University told Psychology Today in a 2019 study. He also pointed out that blue can signal sadness and loneliness. “Blue is the color of sadness, pain and hardship, as in the blues. Emotionally, blue is the most accepting and inclusive color,” adds Nemiroff.
The research also shows that psychopaths, although they appear calm and relaxed, have settings in their brains that promote anxiety and impulsivity. Hidden psychic turbulence, combined with darker personality traits, can amplify emotional stress instead of dampening it.
“Previous studies suggest that the so-called dark trinity – cold, impulsive and callous behavior (psychopathy), cunning and manipulative behavior (Machiavellianism), and egocentrism or desire for admiration (narcissism) – is inextricably linked to depressive symptoms,” said the authors of a study published in February 2025 in the Journal of Research in Personality. According to them, those who show high levels of psychopathy and Machiavellianism also show higher levels of depressive symptoms, while individuals with more pronounced narcissism do not.
New research thus points out that a preference for the color blue can be a subtle indicator of psychological imbalance even in people who at first glance seem relaxed and self-confident.
