Kwon and colleagues evaluated the effects of mental state on color combination preferences. They found that “individuals who have experienced social exclusion (isolation) display a heightened preference for analogous color combinations, as opposed to complementary ones, compared to those who have not experienced social exclusion. Our research posits that this preference arises from the feeling of conflict induced by social exclusion, leading individuals to choose products and environments with analogous colors as a coping mechanism to alleviate this feeling of conflict. . . . Our research also indicates that utilizing analogous color combinations in both product and interior design can substantially enhance the appeal for socially excluded individuals.”
Analogous and complementary color combinations are discussed in this article and this one.
Mijin Kwon, Eunmi Jeon, and Youngjee Han. 2024. “The Social Side of Color: How Social Exclusion Influences Preferences for Color Combination.” Psychology and Marketing, vol. 41, no. 7, pp. 1649-1667, https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.22002