Fashion and women’s self-concept: a typology for self-fashioning using clothing

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa S. McNeill

Purpose An individual’s identity is defined in the role that they devise for themselves, based on social positions. Examining identity motives can help in understanding what influences one to take on a particular role. Self-esteem is one of the major motivational drivers in determining the role that an individual takes on. Individuals, through self-presentation, are said to be motivated to control the impressions others form of them. In this way, self-concept and fashion innovativeness are linked – with prior research suggesting that those with high levels of fashion innovativeness are also those with a strong sense of self. Where a gap remains, however, in exploring the direction of the relationship between self-concept and being more innovative and fashionable in clothing choices, as well as how individuals reflexively judge their own fashion choices against their perception of others – e.g. can you force yourself to be a fashion leader? The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This study takes a lived experience approach to examine fashion as a tool in establishing social hierarchies amongst women. The study uses depth interviews with ten women to explore the developed self-concept of women actively engaged with fashion consumption. Findings The research presents a typology of fashion identities, exploring notions of security, dominance and innovativeness in self-fashioning using clothing. Research limitations/implications The research is exploratory, and limited to a sample of ten women. However, the study offers a number of key findings to drive future research in this area. Practical implications The research finds that both security of self-concept, in relation to fashion and general self-esteem, as well as insecurity, can motivate women towards fashion independence. This suggests that identity-based marketing is likely to be more successful than lifestyle-based marketing, when selling women’s fashion clothing. Social implications In prior research, self-concept and fashion innovativeness are linked – with prior research suggesting that those with high levels of fashion innovativeness are also those with a strong sense of self. This study finds that those with an insecure sense of self may also exhibit fashion independence, using fashion to acquire social capital. Originality/value This paper illustrates the concept that, unlike previous notions of fashion independence and engagement with fashion, these fashion-involved categorisations of behaviour are not always driven by sophistication, confidence, creativity and low fear of risk. Instead, this study has shown that fashion innovativeness can be motivated by an overarching fear of the outcomes of being judged unfashionable.

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 1879-1892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrynn Pounders ◽  
Christine M. Kowalczyk ◽  
Kirsten Stowers

Purpose Social media enables consumers to regularly express themselves in a variety of ways. Selfie-postings are the new tool for self-presentation, particularly among millennials. The purpose of this paper is to identify the motivations associated with selfie-postings among female millennials. Design/methodology/approach The exploratory study consisted of 15 in-depth interviews with women who were 19-30 years of age. The analysis of data was facilitated by an iterative constant comparison method between data, emerging concepts and extant literature. Findings Textual analysis reveals impression management to be pivotal in understanding the consumer selfie-posting process. Other sub-themes include happiness and physical appearance. In addition, self-esteem was revealed as a motivator and an outcome. Research limitations/implications The study was limited to females who were 19-30 years of age. Future research should include males and a wider age group and focus on empirical testing of the identified themes. Practical implications This research sheds light on the motivation and outcomes associated with selfie-postings. Implications for marketers and advertisers include a better understanding of how to engage consumers to post content in the form of selfies with brands and products. Originality/value This paper fulfils an identified need to explore the growing trend of selfie-postings and contributes to academic literature in consumer behavior by identifying the motivations of selfie-postings.


1991 ◽  
Vol 73 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1244-1246 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Persinger ◽  
Katherine Makarec

28 men and 32 women were given Vingiano's Hemisphericity Questionnaire and the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory. People who reported the greatest numbers of right hemispheric indicators displayed the lowest self-esteem; the correlations were moderately strong ( r>.50) for both men and women. These results support the hypothesis that the sense of self is primarily a linguistic, left-hemispheric phenomenon and that a developmental history of frequent intrusion from right-hemispheric processes can infuse the self-concept with negative affect.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Ranzini ◽  
Christoph Lutz

The emergence of location-based real-time dating (LBRTD) apps such as Tinder has introduced a new way for users to get to know potential partners nearby. The design of the apps represents a departure from “old-school” dating sites as it relies on the affordances of mobile media. This might change the way individuals portray themselves as their authentic or deceptive self. Based on survey data collected via Mechanical Turk and using structural equation modeling, we assess how Tinder users present themselves, exploring at the same time the impact of their personality characteristics, their demographics, and their motives of use. We find that self-esteem is the most important psychological predictor, fostering real self-presentation but decreasing deceptive self-presentation. The motives of use—hooking up/sex, friendship, relationship, traveling, self-validation, and entertainment—also affect the two forms of self-presentation. Demographic characteristics and psychological antecedents influence the motives for using Tinder, with gender differences being especially pronounced. Women use Tinder more for friendship and self-validation, while men use it more for hooking up/sex, traveling, and relationship seeking. We put the findings into context, discuss the limitations of our approach and provide avenues for future research into the topic.


2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 1362-1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Roe ◽  
Johan Bruwer

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which consumer self-concept (self-esteem) and product involvement influences the wine purchase decision at the retail level given the anticipated consumption occasion. The predictive effects of self-concept on this interaction were also explored. Design/methodology/approach Data collection was in the independent specialist fine wine store environment in Sydney, Australia. Central to the study was the development of a 33-item multi-dimensional fine wine involvement scale (Cronbach’s α =0.846 for 26 final items) for measuring consumers’ involvement. Findings Wine product involvement deepens with age but low involvement consumers perceiving risk in making the wrong product choice may well purchase fine wines for situations where self-concept is a moderating factor. In the case of low involvement wine consumers a positive association exists between situational wine choice and self-concept but no significant differences exist for self-concept across any of the consumption occasions. Age and self-concept were both confirmed as linked to levels of consumption. The findings support the notion that wine consumers aged 45 years and older are significantly more disposed to purchase fine wine products. Practical implications For self-concept to be relevant to purchase it follows that the wine consumption occasion must be conspicuous. Originality/value This study is the first to examine the extent to which consumer self-concept and product involvement influences the wine purchase decision at the retail level given the anticipated consumption occasion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-81
Author(s):  
Harriet Dymond ◽  
Simon Duff

Purpose Research into paedophilia mainly uses offender samples; thus, little is understood about non-offending paedophiles. The limited body of research has been conducted in North America or Europe whose health and legal systems differ from those in the UK. Using semi-structured interviews, the purpose of this study is to explore the experience of three non-offending British paedophilic males. Design/methodology/approach The interview discussed their paedophilia, refraining from offending and perspectives on treatment initiatives. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings Three superordinate themes emerged: “paedophilia as more than a sexuality,” “acceptance leads to management” and “barriers to support.” These encapsulated how paedophilia was understood, how accepting one’s sexual attraction is tantamount to well-being and the various obstacles to providing support were discussed. Research limitations/implications Acknowledging the sampling considerations (size and recruitment), the results implicate research into paedophilia. The onset of paedophilia was chronologically associated with typical sexual attraction, and not the result of sexual abuse as some theories suggest. Furthermore, the tenets of attraction to children extending beyond sexual desire were highlighted. Practically, the results influence future research into the area and highlight the dearth in our understanding of diverse behavioural management techniques (i.e. computerised images of children or human-like dolls). Originality/value This paper presents novel insight into the aspects of paedophilia, excluding offensive behaviour and highlights the need for affordable, UK-based services targeted towards people with a paedophilic attraction to manage child sexual abuse preventatively and not reactively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-234
Author(s):  
Aliye Emirali ◽  
Rachel O'Rourke ◽  
Caroline Friendship

Purpose This paper explores absconding from a new perspective. Literature has tended to focus on the risk factors linked with absconding. This paper aims to consider desistance factors for absconding for prisoners at higher risk of absconding in open prisons. Design/methodology/approach Stage 1 used logistic regression to identify factors associated with increased risk of absconding. Stage 2 identified new receptions with increased risk and used thematic analysis to analyse interviews with prisoners that did not abscond after three months. Findings Stage 1 found that the total number of previous offences predicted absconding. Stage 2 found three themes linked to desistance in absconding: “support”, “ownership” and “sense of self”. Practical implications This study highlights the importance of ensuring prisoners in open prisons are offered the appropriate emotional and practical support. It also identifies the importance of hope amongst prisoners in open conditions. Future research should further explore this idea in more depth. Originality/value Previous literature has looked at absconding from a risk factor perspective. This research identifies the desistance factors associated with absconding for individuals who have been identified as high risk of absconding. Improvements in factors associated with desistance from absconding may support a reduction in absconding from open prisons.


2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Jade Lovell ◽  
Gillian Hardy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the lived experience of having a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in a forensic setting. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight women with a diagnosis of BPD in private secure units. The interview data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings – Four main themes emerged: identity, power, protection and containment, and confusion. The themes of identity, power and protection and containment represented polarised positions which in turn contributed to the theme of confusion. Research limitations/implications – There are limitations to this study mainly the heterogeneous nature of the sample. However, good quality control and the similarities with previous findings indicate that this study makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of BPD in a forensic setting. In addition it has implications for further research; exploring sense of self and the differences between a sample from a community and a sample from a forensic setting with a diagnosis of BPD. Practical implications – For practitioners to acknowledge power dynamics and to be able to formulate and address these with patients with a diagnosis of BPD. Originality/value – This is the first IPA study to ask women with a diagnosis of BPD in a forensic setting what their experience is. It is a qualitative study due to the need to genuinely explore the topic and to provide a basis for others to conduct further research.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-108
Author(s):  
Adrian Morawiak ◽  
Błażej Mrozinski ◽  
Joanna Gutral ◽  
Marzena Cypryańska ◽  
John B Nezlek

Aim: The present study was designed to examine relationships between young people’s self-concepts and their perceptions of their futures Methods: High school students (n = 347) completed measures of the two domains of self‑concept, the evaluative domain, self-esteem, and the knowledge or structural domain, self-concept clarity. They also completed two measures of perceptions of their futures, optimism and future time perspective. Results: Both measures of self-concept were positively correlated with both measures of perception of the future. For both measures of perceptions of the future, regression analyses found that when perceptions of the future were regressed onto the two measures of self-concept perceptions of the future were significantly related to only self-esteem. Relationships between perceptions of the future and self-concept clarity were not significant. Analyses of mediation found that self-esteem mediated the relationship between self-concept clarity and both measures of perceptions of the future. Conclusion: Young people with a clearer sense of self and who have higher self-esteem are more optimistic and perceive a longer future than young people with a less clear sense of self and who have lower self-esteem; however, the effects of self-concept clarity disappear after the relationship between clarity and self-esteem are taken into account.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea Evanna Boccagno ◽  
D.Phil. Jill Miranda Hooley

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a widespread and dangerous behavior. Despite increasing understanding of the risk factors for NSSI, this behavior remains highly prevalent, highlighting the need for an extension of current research and more precise treatment targets. Specifically, research examining self-perception in NSSI provides a fruitful foundation for future work. Mounting studies indicate that self-concept disturbances are implicated in NSSI. Yet it remains unclear how different components of self-concept—such as self-criticism and identity confusion—are associated for people with NSSI. Furthermore, research in this domain uses distinct definitions and measures of self-concept disturbance, rendering it difficult to integrate findings across studies. This conceptual review provides the first summary to date synthesizing research on self-concept (content and structure) in NSSI, highlights research questions to address, and outlines suggestions for future work. Recommendations for NSSI research examining self-concept include: (a) increasing the consistency of terms used; (b) examining relationships between self-concept content and structure; (c) exploring the extent to which measures of self-concept and identity tap into the same phenomena; (d) assessing self-concept across different levels of analysis; and (e) identifying treatment targets for distinct self-related disturbances (e.g., heightened self-criticism versus an inconsistent sense of self). Potential intervention targets are discussed.


Psihologija ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bojana Bodroza

A study was conducted to ascertain what the dominant self motivation is like - selfverifying or self-enhancing? - in a situation when a person is faced with a negative evaluation of a central personality characteristic. Previous research suggested that affective reactions should follow the pattern predicted by self-enhancement theory by which all individuals would react with positive affect to positive evaluation and with negative affect to negative evaluation. On the other side, cognitive reactions are expected to follow the pattern predicted by self-verification theory which suggests that information consistent with the self-concept should be the most convincing (i.e. cognitive reactions should be influenced by interaction of feedback and self-esteem). Ninety female respondents were given a false favorable or extremely unfavorable feedback about their achievement on an intelligence test, after which their cognitive and affective reactions were measured. The results revealed that the respondents demonstrated a self-enhancing motivation both in the affective and the cognitive domain, i.e., regardless of their level of self-esteem, those who had failed experienced more negative affect, rated test more unfavorably, assessed it as less accurate, and claimed they had invested less effort to solve the test, than those who were successful. The research imposes conclusion that cognitive reactions to failure are not conditioned only by the degree of negativity or positivity of global self-views, but also by the quality/intensity of unfavorable feedback. This conclusion provides important methodological implications for future research in this area.


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