My thinking processing:
How can…? [intervention]…change!
WHAT WHY HOW WHAT IF
Escapism
Change: Men to be open about their troubles.
How can…I help young men to be more able to share their problems, rather than retreating into escapism.
Interventions: Wearing different clothes, etc.
RESEARCHERS HAVE IDENTIFIED A SERIES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES THAT OCCUR WHEN WE WEAR CERTAIN CLOTHES
We all take a little extra effort to look nice for special occasions. But for the most, people remain conflicted between wanting to dress up and feeling guilty about taking the time to focus on clothes. Science now suggests that how we dress may just be the difference between giving ourselves the extra edge in our professional and personal lives. And yes, that applies to men too.
We hear sayings like “dress for the job you want; not the job you have” and “look good, feel good” all the time. Most people don’t really believe in them, but we try to match our attire to the occasion nevertheless. The good news is that research into the impact of clothes on behavior now suggests that there may actually be a grain of truth in these sayings. Science says that the clothes we wear affect our behavior, attitudes, personality, mood, confidence, and even the way we interact with others. This is “Enclothed Cognition“.
The term Enclothed Cognition is used to describe the effect that our clothes seem to have on various psychological processes like emotions, self evaluations, attitudes, and interpersonal interactions. Clothes affect our behavior and our moods because of the symbolic meaning that we (as a society) ascribe to different types of attire.
We consider some clothes to be powerful, some to be fun, and so on. We even evaluate people whom we have just met based on their clothes and the occasion. It would seem that we also evaluate ourselves and our roles based on what we are wearing at a particular time; because of the way they make you feel. This means that the experience of wearing something subtly affects our attitudes and our choice of behavior.
Suited up = power up
There’s a reason tailored jackets are associated with being ‘dressed for success’. It seems that wearing formal office wear and structured clothes puts us in the right frame of mind to conduct business. Wearing power clothing makes us more feel more confident [possibly because we call it power clothing]; and even increases hormones needed for displaying dominance. This in turn helps us become better negotiators and abstract thinkers.
Casual Friday
While a good suit works wonders for our performance in the boardroom; wearing formal wear isn’t a great idea when we want to socialize. Studies have found that people tend to be less open and find it more difficult to relax when they wear formal clothes.
On the other hand, a casual and relaxed dress code at work helps us become more friendly and creative. These findings bolster the idea of wearing business casuals on a Friday; since colleagues are most likely to take out time to socialize and let their hair down on the last work day of the week. I mean, who wants to hang out with the squares in their suits?
The psychology of gym clothes
Not motivated enough to exercise daily? Wear some of your gym clothes, or at least carry them with you. Wearing gym clothes / active wear makes it more likely that we will actually exercise. This may happen because wearing our workout gear acts as a reminder to make healthy choices. And for many, having the clothes on eliminates the step of ‘dressing for exercise’; and reduces one of our excuses.
Uniform thinking
Any kind of clothing that is associated with a specific role activates all our knowledge and expectations about how people from that profession should behave. For example, wearing uniforms and coats can make people more conscious of their duties and encourage them to pay more attention to their jobs. Just wearing a lab-coat during an experiment encourages people to pay more attention (since lab-coats represent serious, attentive professions like scientists and doctors) and make fewer mistakes.
And this is not just for the adults. School children in Kenya attended school more and performed better when they were given uniforms to wear – perhaps because the uniforms made school work that much more real and valuable to these children and their parents.
Luxury good and politics
Most of us think of our political affiliations as rock solid. But not only can clothes affect our perceived social status, they can even change our political views and attitudes. In one study women who were asked to carry a Prada handbag identified more with conservative, capitalist values than a control group who were given a non-luxury handbag.
These ladies were also less likely to help others in general; but were more likely to help if it improved their status. The researchers believe that this could be because people unconsciously attempt to behave in ways that are congruent their look. So essentially, if we dress for the role, we will start to live it.
Uppers and downers
Feeling low / cranky / upset / sad? While our mental state most definitely affects the way we dress; the reverse may also hold true. What we wear could affect how we cope days when we are depressed, anxious and stressed. Research says the quickest little fix for a bad day is to wear brightly colored clothes. Cheerful colors work as a mini pick-me-up; and thus boosting our mood and energy. Also, we associate bright colors with happiness, sunny days, and carefree times (like the summer vacations when we were kids).
On the other hand, we associate deep and dull colors with low energy, being tired and a more somber mood. So the next time you feel like donning a dark hoodie to hide a bad day; reach out for the bright pullover instead! It may just make you feel a little happier.
Hidden secrets
Amazingly even our underwear affects the way we feel about ourselves. Hidden clothes like our socks and underwear can exert a powerful influence on our self-perception and confidence levels. Wearing something we perceive as sexy can make us feel more self assured, more powerful and more confident.
To improve self image, even copying someone’s style may be a good idea. Research shows that when we emulate the dress code of people we consider smart and powerful, we feel infused with these qualities as well. That’s certainly an argument for owning clothes that bring out the best in us.
Mind What You Wear: It Can Change Your Life
It is easy to think of clothing as mere covering, or the means by which we project our image to other people. But studies have shown that clothes really can change how we think and feel.
When I recently asked students to put on a Superman t-shirt it wasn’t because I didn’t like what they were wearing. There was a scientific reason behind my request. I wanted to know if wearing heroic clothing would change the students’ thinking. I had become interested in something called ‘enclothed cognition’, the idea that what we wear can change our minds. An idea that was borne out in the tests the students completed.
When wearing a Superman t-shirt the students rated themselves as more likeable and superior to other students. When asked to estimate how much they could physically lift, those in a Superman t-shirt thought they were stronger than students in a plain t-shirt, or in their own clothing. This demonstrated that our inner mental processes and perceptions can be primed by our clothing, as we internalise the symbolic meaning of our outer layers.
Clothes change how we think and feel
It is easy to think of clothing as mere covering, or the means by which we project our image to other people. But studies have shown that clothes really can change how we think and feel. If you have ever been a hospital patient forced to wear a shapeless, pale, garment like a baby’s gown that gapes at the back, you may remember how it made you feel docile, trusting and helpless. Or you may have felt the anonymity that comes from slipping into a uniform, or the power of wearing a sharp suit.
Research has confirmed that these clothes actually change our thinking. In the 1990’s Barbara Fredrickson found that women who were given a maths test performed worse when wearing a swimsuit than in a sweater. Researchers from the US found wearing a white coat improved people’s mental agility, priming their brain to take on the mental capacities they associated with being a doctor.
Our clothes reflect our mood – and can change it
What we wear has cognitive, social and emotional consequences. My previous research discovered a link between women’s mood states and their clothing choices. The women were more likely to wear jeans when feeling low or depressed. More recently I found another clear link between mood and clothing, discovering that when women are stressed their world narrows down resulting in them wearing less of their wardrobe, neglecting 90% of it. This led me to speculate whether we can change our mood when we wear something different and to come up with the following list of ‘happy’ clothes likely to induce a more positive mood in the wearer:
1. A favourite well-cut dress in a beautiful fabric will lift the mood. A flared peplum shape, for example, creates the ideal hip-to-waist ratio that is feminising and comfortable.
2. A piece of statement (bold) jewellery that marks you out as an individual will make you feel special like wearing a badge of honour or medal.
3. Colours that are found in nature (sky blue, leaf green, sunshine yellow) link us to the natural world, protecting us from negative emotions and giving that extra burst of energy.
4. Playful patterns such as polka dots or abstract prints can resurrect the carefree feelings we experienced in childhood.
5. Mismatched items, e.g. a leather jacket over a floaty dress, formal with informal, vintage with new, give us a buzz because the brain enjoys novelty and surprise.
6. Loose clothing and flat shoes allow free unrestricted movement, associated with adventure and travel. Tight clothes and high heels do the opposite.
7. Vintage accessories, like bags or belts, are often better quality than we could buy today and, just like old movies, reconnect us with stories from the past giving a warm inner glow of reassurance.
8. Natural fibres like linen, cotton, silk and wool, nurture more than man-made fabrics by capitalising on our affinity with nature.
9. Flowered prints, lacy tops and floaty fabrics are associated with spring, making us feel ultra-feminine and glowing with health.
10. Any trend that harmonises with who you really are and is in tune with your inner self will boost your mood. Your smile is your best accessory, so if you smile whenever you wear an item of clothing, you’ve probably found the right piece for you.
I believe we can feel happier and more confident in the right clothes. And now science confirms that not only are we what we wear, we can actually become what we wear.