Social identity in fashion

what is social identity in fashion psych?

The idea that clothing choices are influenced by social groups and communicate group membership, shaping both behaviour and how others respond

what does social psych study in relation to fashion?

how social environments influence clothing choices and how those choices affect behaviour and perception

why is clothing important psychologically>

it acts as a social signal, communicating identity, status and group membership

self-presentation theory?

idea that people control how they are perceived by others to create a positive image

two motivations in self-presentation theory?

• self-construction (building positive identity)

• pleasing the audience.

key limitation of self-presentation theory?

ignores the role of group membership in shaping behaviour

What is social identity approach? SIA

a framework that explains how group memberships shapes identity belabour and perception

what two theories make up SIA?

• social identity theory

• self-categorisation theory

whats social identity?

part of self-concept derived from membership in social gorups>

whats identity salience?

when a particular group identity becomes active and influences behaviour

in gorup>

a group we identify with

out gorup>

a group we dint identify wit

how are in group members treated and what study shows thus?

with more trust, help and influence- Levine et al 2005- people helped others wearing in-group football shirts more

normative behvaiour>

Acting according to group norms and values?

when is normative behaviour strongest>

when group identity is highly salient and strongly identified with

positive differentiatuon>?

desire to make you group appear better than others

how is positive differentiation achieved?

emphasising the differences between in-group and outgrip

whats identity performance?

actively expressing identity to others through behaviour and appearance

whats the 2 functions of identity performance?

• identity consolidation (shows membership)

• identity mobilisation (encourages group action)

why is clothing important for identity performance?

• makes identity visible and recognisable to others

how does clothing signal group meberships>

through shared styles, symbols and norms

key idea about gory membership and clothing>

clothing doesn’t just reflect groups- it helps create and define them

whats an ARGOT?

a hidden or coded way of communicating identity within fashion example handkerchief code

how does fashion create division and what are the consequences of this?

• by distinguishing in-groups from outgrips and the consequences can be stereotyping, discrimination, hate crimes, exclusion

Enclothed cognition

clothing influences the wearers psychological processes- e.g Adam + Galinksy (2012) lab coats improved attention, sp clothing can affect how we behave, not just how we are seen,

how does clothing influence perception?

• formal clothing seen as more competent

• uniforms are seen as more authoritative h

how does fashion relate to social status?

it signals position in social hierarchy

can fashion challenge status?

Yes- especially in marginalised groups

whats the 3 responses to low group status

• individual mobility

• social creativity

• collective action

individual mobility

• attempting to move into higher-status group

social creativity?

redefining comparisons to make your group look better

whats collective action?

group efforts to challenge inequality

how is fashion used as resistance?

tp challenge norms, power and inequality, e.g punk, black is beautiful, drag culture

whats the bubble-up theory?

trends start in lower-status groups and move upward- the issue with this is original meaning and identity can be lost (e.g with punk rock fashion)

how does fashion availability affect identity?and who is affected>

can cause limited options which restrict identity expression- plus size, disabled, elderly

whats the core argument of social identity in fashion?

• expresses social identity

• signs group mebership

• shapes behaviour and perception

• reinforces or challenges social hierarchy

define social identity theory?

• tajfel & turner 1979- explains how individuals aim to define themselves based on group memberships (etc race, nationality, class) and aim to maintain positive social identity

whats the key processes of social identity theory?

• social categorisation (us vs them)

• social identification (adopting group norms)

• social comparison

define self-categorisation

• turner et al 1987

• people categorise themselves at different levels (individual vs group), and behaviour depends on which identity is salient

• identity is fluid and context-dependent

define social identity approach

• tafjel & turner (combines SIT and SCT)

• framework that explains how group identity shapes behaviour, cognition and perception

self-presentation theory

• Baumeister 1982

• ppl control how they’re perceived to create a positive impressioni

Identity Performance Theory

Identity Performance Theory

Klein, Spears & Reicher (2007)

Enclothed Cognition

• Adam & Galinsky (2012)

• Clothing influences the wearer’s psychological processes and behaviour.

Deinviduation

Johnson & downing 1979

When people feel less personally identifiable, they are more likely to:

• follow group norms

• act in ways they normally wouldn’t

• feel less responsible for their behaviour

social norms theory

Terry & Hogg (1996)

Behaviour is influenced by group norms, especially when identity is strong.

Theory of Social Class & Cultural Capital

Bourdieu (1984) taste reflects and reproduces social class differences, clothing signals class, maintains social hierarchy- fashion can reinforce inequality