The Lüscher Test: What It Is And How It Uses Colors
The Lüscher Test is a projective evaluation technique which starts from relating the preference or rejection of different colors with the expression of specific psychological states. It is a test widely used in different areas and has given rise to various controversies due to the nature of its application and its methodological criteria.
The Lüscher Test is a psychological tool designed to assess a person’s emotional state, personality traits, and psychological well-being through their color preferences. Developed in 1947 by Swiss psychiatrist Max Lüscher, this test operates on the premise that individuals’ choices in color reflect deep, subconscious emotional reactions and psychological conditions. The Lüscher Test has been widely used in clinical settings, research, and by psychologists seeking to better understand a patient’s emotional and psychological state.
We will see below what are some of the theoretical foundations from which the Lüscher Test is based, to then explain the process of application and interpretation, and finally, present some of the criticisms that have been made of it.
The Lüscher Color Test is a psychological assessment that relies on the subject’s choice of color to analyze their psychological state. This test is based on the idea that our color preferences reveal unconscious traits, emotional struggles, and sometimes even physical health issues. Lüscher proposed that the colors selected by individuals in a sequence could provide insights into their personality and emotional well-being.
The test uses a set of eight colors: blue, green, red, yellow, brown, gray, black, and violet. The test participant is asked to rank these colors based on their preferences. The order in which the colors are chosen gives psychologists valuable information about a person’s current emotional state, desires, and fears.
Origins and theoretical foundations of the Lüscher Test
In 1947, and after having studied the relationship between color and different psychological diagnoses, Swiss psychotherapist Max Lüscher created a first emotional and psychological evaluation test based on the preference for certain colors and their relationship with personality.
It is a projective type test, that is, an instrument for the exploration of personality and psyche used for diagnostic purposes in different areas such as clinical, work, educational or forensic. Being projective, it is a test that seeks to explore psychic dimensions that are not accessible through other means (for example, through verbal language or observable behavior).
Broadly speaking, the Lüscher Test is based on the idea that the serial choice of eight different colors can account for a specific emotional and psychosomatic state.
The relationship between colors and psychological needs
The Lüscher Test starts from relating the theory of fundamental and complementary colors with the fundamental needs and the needs that intervene indirectly in psychological mechanisms.
In other words, it takes up the psychology of colors to establish a relationship between psychological reactions and chromatic stimuli, where it is assumed that each individual reacts psychologically to the presence of a certain color. Thus, chromatic stimulation can activate reactions that speak of the satisfaction, or dissatisfaction, of fundamental psychological needs.
The above is considered a universal phenomenon shared by all people, regardless of cultural context, gender, ethnic origin, language or other variables. Likewise, it is defended under the argument that all individuals share a nervous system that allows us to respond to chromatic stimulation, and with this, activate various psychological mechanisms.
Objective component and subjective component
The Luscher test takes into consideration two elements that relate psychological states to the choice of certain colors. These elements are the following:
That is, it starts from considering that all people can perceive different color ranges equally, as well as experience the same sensations through them. It therefore attributes an objective character to the experiential quality associated with each color. For example, the color red would activate a stimulating and excited sensation in all people equally, regardless of variables external to the people themselves.
Added to the latter is a subjective nature, since it maintains that, due to the same sensation of excitement that the color red provokes, one person may prefer it and another may perfectly reject it.
Thus, the Lüscher Test considers that the choice of colors has a subjective nature that cannot be faithfully transmitted through verbal language, but that can be analyzed through the seemingly random choice of colors. This would allow us to realize how people truly are, how they see themselves or how they would like to see themselves.
How Does the Lüscher Test Work?
The Lüscher Test involves a simple yet thought-provoking process. The participant is presented with a series of color cards and is asked to rank them according to their immediate preference, without overthinking or analyzing their choice. The test typically involves several phases:
1. The Primary Color Choice
The participant is given a selection of eight colors and must choose the ones they like the most and the least. This is usually done in a ranking order, from 1 to 8, where 1 is the most preferred color and 8 is the least preferred.
2. The Secondary Choice
After the first round, the participant is asked to select a secondary set of preferences, but this time, the focus is on choosing colors that best represent their current emotional state. This helps assess how the individual feels at the moment of the test.
3. Interpretation of the Results
Each color in the test corresponds to different emotional states, mental health conditions, or personality traits. For example, colors like blue and green are often associated with calmness and contentment, while red might indicate excitement, aggression, or stress.
What Are the Principles Behind the Lüscher Test?
The Lüscher Color Test is based on the concept that color preferences are directly linked to psychological needs. Lüscher believed that color is a reflection of unconscious desires and that the way we interact with colors can reveal internal states that we may not consciously recognize.
1. Color as a Reflection of Psychological Needs
According to Lüscher, individuals’ preferences for specific colors reflect their psychological needs and desires. For instance, a preference for blue might indicate a desire for peace and tranquility, while someone who prefers red might be expressing a need for excitement or stimulation.
2. The Hierarchy of Needs
The colors chosen in the test are linked to a person’s hierarchical needs. This concept stems from Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, where individuals move from basic needs (like safety and survival) to higher-order needs (like self-actualization). The Lüscher Test aligns with this by indicating the areas of life that the individual is focusing on at any given time.
3. Emotional and Mental Balance
One of the key principles of the Lüscher Test is that emotional and mental imbalances often manifest through color preferences. For example, someone who frequently chooses darker colors like gray or black may be dealing with feelings of depression or lack of energy. On the other hand, those who prefer lighter or more vibrant colors might be in a positive, energetic emotional state.
The Eight Colors in the Lüscher Test and Their Psychological Meanings
Each of the eight colors in the Lüscher Color Test has a specific psychological meaning, which can provide insight into different aspects of the participant’s emotional state, personality, and well-being. Below is a breakdown of the common interpretations of each color:
1. Blue
Psychological Meaning: Blue is often associated with calmness, peace, and stability. It can indicate a person who values tranquility and is emotionally balanced. A preference for blue suggests trustworthiness, dependability, and self-discipline.
Negative Connotation: If someone excessively favors blue, it may indicate a tendency to avoid conflict, emotional withdrawal, or indecisiveness.
2. Green
Psychological Meaning: Green represents balance, harmony, and growth. It is often linked to feelings of being grounded, secure, and connected to nature. Individuals who prefer green may feel a need for security and growth in their personal or professional lives.
Negative Connotation: A preference for green may also suggest a need for independence or a lack of trust in others.
3. Red
Psychological Meaning: Red is associated with energy, excitement, and passion. It represents action, aggression, and strength. A preference for red can signal a person who is ambitious, assertive, and energetic.
Negative Connotation: Too much red can point to stress, over-excitability, or even anger.
4. Yellow
Psychological Meaning: Yellow is often linked to optimism, intellect, and creativity. It represents the mind and the search for knowledge. Individuals who choose yellow may have a strong desire to learn and grow.
Negative Connotation: If someone overly prefers yellow, it could indicate a tendency towards nervousness or lack of emotional stability.
5. Brown
Psychological Meaning: Brown symbolizes dependability, stability, and groundedness. It often represents a need for comfort, security, and order. People who prefer brown may seek reliability and protection in their relationships.
Negative Connotation: A strong preference for brown can sometimes indicate a need for escapism, or being overly cautious.
6. Gray
Psychological Meaning: Gray represents neutrality, indecisiveness, and balance. It may suggest a person who is struggling to find their identity or is in a phase of transition.
Negative Connotation: A preference for gray might indicate depression, lack of energy, or a tendency to avoid emotional commitment.
7. Black
Psychological Meaning: Black is a color that can symbolize power, authority, and mystery. It often represents the unconscious mind and the depths of emotions.
Negative Connotation: A strong attachment to black may suggest feelings of depression, fear, or loss. It could indicate an individual who is struggling with negative emotions or an unwillingness to engage with others.
8. Violet
Psychological Meaning: Violet is often associated with spirituality, creativity, and intuition. It suggests a person who is idealistic and seeks meaning in life beyond the material world.
Negative Connotation: A preference for violet could point to an individual who is detached or overly idealistic, struggling to connect with practical realities.
Application and interpretation: what do the colors mean?
The Lüscher Test has been used in a variety of settings, including:
Clinical psychology: As a diagnostic tool to help understand a patient’s emotional state and personality.
Corporate settings: To assess job candidates’ psychological profiles and their ability to handle stress.
Self-assessment: Individuals sometimes use the test for personal growth, to better understand their own emotional needs.
The procedure for applying the Lüscher Test is simple. The person is presented with a bunch of cards of different colors, and you are asked to choose the card you like the most. You are then asked to arrange the rest of the cards according to your preference.
Each card has a number on the back, and the combination between colors and numbers allows for an interpretation process that depends, on the one hand, on the psychological meaning that this test attributes to each color, and on the other, depends on the order in which the person has arranged the cards.
Although the application of the test is based on a simple procedure, its interpretation is quite complex and delicate (as is usually the case with projective tests). Although it is not a sufficient condition, to carry out the interpretation it is necessary begin by knowing the meaning that Lüscher attributes to the choice or rejection of different colors.
They are known as “Lüscher colors” because they are a range of colors that have a particular chromatic saturation, different from that found in everyday objects. Lüscher chose them from among 400 different chromatic varieties, and the criterion for his selection was the impact it generated on the people observed. This impact included both psychological and physiological reactions. To structure his proof, he classifies them as follows.
1. Basic or fundamental colors
They represent the fundamental psychological needs of the human being. These are the colors blue, green, red and yellow. Broadly speaking, blue is the color of emotional involvement, so it represents the need for satisfaction and affection. Green represents the attitude towards oneself and the need for self-affirmation (the defensiveness of the self). Red alludes to excitement and the need to act and finally, yellow represents projection (understood as the search for horizons and the reflection of an image) and the need to anticipate.
Reporting a pleasant perception in the presence of these colors is for Luscher an indicator of a balanced psychology free of conflicts or repression.
2. Complementary colors
These are the colors violet, coffee (brown), black and gray. Contrary to basic or fundamental colors, the preference for complementary colors can be interpreted as an indicator of experiencing stress, or a manipulative and negative attitude. Although they can also indicate some positive qualities depending on how they are placed. Likewise, the choice of these colors is associated with people who have experiences of low preference or rejection.
The color violet is representative of transformation, but it is also an indicator of immaturity and instability. Coffee represents the sensitive and the corporal, that is, it is directly connected to the body, but as it has little vitality, its exaggerated choice can indicate stress. Grey, for its part, is indicative of neutrality, indifference and possible isolation, but also prudence and composure. Black is representative of renunciation or abandonment, and to a maximum degree, can indicate protest and anguish.
3. The color white
Finally, the white color works as the contrasting color of the previous ones. However, it does not have a fundamental role in the psychological and evaluative meanings for this test.
The position
The interpretation of the test is not completed simply by attributing a meaning to each color. As we said before, Lüscher connects these meanings with the subjective experience of the person being evaluated. This means that the results of the test depend largely on the position in which the person has arranged the colored cards. For Lüscher, the latter accounts for the position and direction of individual behavior, which can be Directive, Receptive, Authoritarian or Suggestible.
Said behavior can, in turn, be in a constant or variable position; which varies depending on how the link is established with other subjects, objects and the interests of the individual. The interpretive procedure of the Lüscher Test is carried out based on an application manual which includes different combinations and positions of colors with their respective meanings.
Some criticisms
In methodological terms, for Seneiderman (2011) projective tests have value as a “bridging hypothesis”, since they allow connections to be established between metapsychology and clinical practice, as well as exploring dimensions of subjectivity, which otherwise would not be intelligible. By starting from the ambiguity and the wide freedom of the answers, these tests allow access to elements that are sometimes difficult to verbalize such as fantasies, conflicts, defenses, fears, etc.
However, as occurs with other projective tests, Lüscher’s test has been attributed a “subjective” mode of interpretation, meaning that its interpretation and results. They depend largely on the personal criteria of each psychologist or specialist who applies it. That is to say, it is concluded that it is a test that does not offer “objective” conclusions, which has generated much criticism.
In the same sense, he is criticized for the impossibility of generalizing his findings, due to the lack of standardization that meets the methodological criteria of objectivity of traditional science. Criteria that support, for example, psychometric tests. In this sense, projective tests have a scientific status that has caused quite a bit of controversy, especially among specialists who consider this type of test as “reactive” and who, in the best of cases, have proposed systematizing them quantitatively.
Thus, this test has been criticized both for lack of criteria that could ensure both its reliability and for the low possibility of reproducing its results. On the other hand, The ideas of functionality and pathology have also been criticized (and the possible reproduction of biases, prejudices or stigmas of various kinds), which theoretically support the interpretations of this test.
The Lüscher Color Test is a fascinating psychological tool that provides insights into a person’s emotional and psychological state through their color preferences. While it may not offer an exhaustive analysis, it can help highlight key aspects of an individual’s inner world, including their emotional needs, mental health, and interpersonal dynamics. Whether used in therapy, self-reflection, or research, the test offers valuable insight into how color perception connects with our deepest emotions and desires.
Understanding the meanings behind the colors we choose can help foster self-awareness, as well as guide therapists and individuals toward improved emotional and psychological well-being.
