Date of Defense
4-18-2018
Date of Graduation
4-2018
Department
Family and Consumer Sciences
First Advisor
Zee-Sun Yun
Second Advisor
Mary Simpson
Abstract
The main objective of this project was to explore the idea of using clothing as a nonverbal communication tool. The symbolic interaction theory is used to explain how clothes obtain meaning and how this message can be communicated among college students in college environment. A social experiment was conducted using 10 college students to create a short documentary. The students dressed out of context for a day and wore outfits that contradicted their regular sense of style; outfits consisted of mismatching colors, coordination and prints and were worn to a course/class social setting. The findings indicated the students found themselves more self-aware about the garments they wore as well as the messages displayed when dressing out of context. This exploratory research supports clothing as nonverbal communication tool.
Recommended Citation
Martinez-Chavarria, Cesia, "The Clothed Minded: Socio-Psychological Aspects of Dress Through Non-Verbal Communication" (2018). Honors Theses. 2959.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/2959
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Restricted