Psychodynamics is an evolving, multi-disciplinary science that studies human thought processes, response patterns and influences. Research in the field is providing insights which can be applied in a number of ways, including:
1) Anticipating conscious and unconscious responses to shapes, symbols, colors, textures, sounds, etc.;
2) Utilizing physical and mental processes to affect extended mental and emotional change;
3) Utilizing design to affect mental process, physiological response, even biological change.
This science can be harnessed by combining a number of emerging communications, design and psychological sciences -- including the research of eminent Russian neurophysiologist Dr. P.V. Simonov, the late American social psychologist Dr. Arnold Mitchell, neurochemists such as Dr. Pavel Balaban and Dr. Candice Pert, movement psychologist Dr. Stuart Heller and transpersonal psychologist Dr. Beth Hedva, among others.
When we design banners this is the science we try to deploy.
I found a thread over at WebProNews which kind of falls into the psychodynamics area. This is more about color and perception, but this still applies as it is the feelings that colors can generate when people view them. All in all, a fairly informative topic IMHO. You can see that thread over at WebProWorld in a topic titled "
Psychological Impact Of Website Colors". There is another thread entitled "
Color Usage and International Audiences" that will give you a similar slant with an international theme.
