Dressing to be your best self: Impression management with the use of clothing in the school and work settings

• Main Authors: Cuneta, Monica Generosa C., De Castro, Rachelle Lauren L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2010
• Subjects: Self-presentation; Impression formation (Psychology); Clothing and dress—Psychological aspects; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/5155
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study deals with impression management through clothing in the school and work settings. A qualitative approach was used by the researchers to elicit responses from the participants. Focus group discussions, group interviews, and one-on-one interviews were conducted to 24 female respondents. 12 were from the work settings, and 12 were from the university settings. The data were analyzed by the use of qualitative method, specifically content analysis. The researchers were able to construct 12 major themes that were considered as the uses of clothing. The following are: clothing as a form of expression, creating a positive mood, enhanced confidence level, a feeling of comfort, eliciting reassurance from others to gain respect, to achieve goals, managing impressions, and looking presentable. Two major functions of clothing arose from the findings: the instrumental function and the symbolic function. The instrumental function helps manage the person's over-all being, while the symbolic function helps define image.