PSYCHOLOGY of FASHION...
There is true meaning behind 'Fashion Psychology' or so I have come to learn. It relates to the understanding of why people choose to wear particular items of clothing and the repercussions their clothing has upon those around them and on their own personal thoughts and emotions.
TOP-DOWN PROCESSING THEORY
This theory known as Top-Down Processing is derived by prestigious psychologist Richard Gregory in 1970 where he believes that we compare people we don't know to people we do and their personality just if they are wearing similar clothing. (Richardgregory.org, (2014).)
"Perception involves making inferences about what we see and trying to make our best guess. Prior knowledge and past experience are crucial in this formation" (McLeod, S, 2007)
This theory is the depiction of judging a book by its cover.
This theory known as Top-Down Processing is derived by prestigious psychologist Richard Gregory in 1970 where he believes that we compare people we don't know to people we do and their personality just if they are wearing similar clothing. (Richardgregory.org, (2014).)
"Perception involves making inferences about what we see and trying to make our best guess. Prior knowledge and past experience are crucial in this formation" (McLeod, S, 2007)
This theory is the depiction of judging a book by its cover.
Research on "enclothed cognition demonstrates a powerful link between a person's attire and the way they behave, and evolutionary and cognitive psychology can help us understand the inner drivers for people's clothing choices, and the effect upon others." (Karen Pine, 2011)
the niche group of FASHION PSYCHOLOGISTS
Fashion psychologists are a small group of professionals who are qualified psychologists and also have background or experience in the fashion industry. This niche group is able to apply many psychological theories to the wide world of fashion so it is easier to comprehend why people choose specific clothes or judge people because of it.
Dawnn Karen, a fashion psychologist from the US, with a masters in Psychology and a modelling background so has "inside knowledge of the fashion industry and learned the true emphasis placed on external appearances as opposed to the inner beauty" (Dawnn Karen). Ms Karen is able to use many psychological theories to style clients from the "inside, out" in order to "bridge the gap from perception to reality". (Small, C 2014,)
the SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY of dress
According to psychological studies, dress is a form of communication toward others, protection from psychological harm and can even reflect our social positions and hierarchy. Clothes have had an important role in deciphering the upper class to the working class since the 1900's, and it has been concluded that "fashion is for the privileged" throughout time.
A behaviour study complied of 93 research studies between 1955 and 2004 investigated the effect of dress on others behaviour. From the results, it was deduced that 85% of the research demonstrated that clothing significantly affected the behaviour of observers.
BEHAVIOUR AFFECTED INCLUDED:
-likelihood of helping
-obedience
-personal space between one another
-disclosure & aggression
(K.P. Johnson, K & Lennon, S 2014)
the niche group of FASHION PSYCHOLOGISTS
Fashion psychologists are a small group of professionals who are qualified psychologists and also have background or experience in the fashion industry. This niche group is able to apply many psychological theories to the wide world of fashion so it is easier to comprehend why people choose specific clothes or judge people because of it.
Dawnn Karen, a fashion psychologist from the US, with a masters in Psychology and a modelling background so has "inside knowledge of the fashion industry and learned the true emphasis placed on external appearances as opposed to the inner beauty" (Dawnn Karen). Ms Karen is able to use many psychological theories to style clients from the "inside, out" in order to "bridge the gap from perception to reality". (Small, C 2014,)
the SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY of dress
According to psychological studies, dress is a form of communication toward others, protection from psychological harm and can even reflect our social positions and hierarchy. Clothes have had an important role in deciphering the upper class to the working class since the 1900's, and it has been concluded that "fashion is for the privileged" throughout time.
A behaviour study complied of 93 research studies between 1955 and 2004 investigated the effect of dress on others behaviour. From the results, it was deduced that 85% of the research demonstrated that clothing significantly affected the behaviour of observers.
BEHAVIOUR AFFECTED INCLUDED:
-likelihood of helping
-obedience
-personal space between one another
-disclosure & aggression
(K.P. Johnson, K & Lennon, S 2014)