Personality and appearance management variables such as clothing interest and appearance orientation have been the topic of previous studies. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the relationship between personality and appearance emphasis. A sample of undergraduate female college students completed a questionnaire measuring five personality factors and accompanying facets. Students also completed a questionnaire that included nine appearance emphasis items. Linear regression demonstrated a relationship exists between certain personality variables and appearance emphasis variables. Neuroticism, extraversion, and openness to experience were found to be moderate predictors for appearance emphasis. The findings of this investigation have theoretical implications regarding the social-psychological aspects of appearance and dress and personality research.
Adams, A.E. (1972). Clothing acceptance for the self and for others, and adherence to selected clothing norms as related to selected aspects of personality in a sample of Black college males. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, the Pennsylvania State University, Centre County.
2.
Aiken, L.R., Jr. (1963). The relationships of dress to selected measures of personality in undergraduate women. Journal of Social Psychology , 59, 119-128.
3.
Beauty news: Advice on how to keep your makeup from running away, and making your home-style manicure as good as a salon job. Plus, do scar removal kits really work? And what your lipstick reveals about your personality. (1998, September). New Woman, 42.
4.
Beauty: What's your fragrance personality? (1996, November). Cosmopolitan, 221(5), 41.
5.
Beauty word of mouth: False eyelashes revisited; lipstick shapes and personality traits; dermatologists' cures for dry skin; plastic surgery on credit? (1991). Glamour, 89(12), 57-61.
6.
Brannon, E.L. (1993). Affect and cognition in appearance management: A review. In S. J. Lennon & L. D. Burns (Eds.), Social science aspects of dress: New directions (pp. 82-92). Monument, CO: International Textiles and Apparel Association.
7.
Compton, N.H. (1973). Clothing fabric preferences in relation to selected physical and personality characteristics. Unpublished doctoral dissertation , University of Maryland, College Park.
8.
Conrad, S.C. (1973). Clothing values and their relation to personality factors and to selected demographic variables for two groups of Canadian university women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University, Centre County.
9.
Costa, P.T., Jr., & McCrae, R.R. (1992). NEO PI-R Professional Manual: Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) and NEO-Five Inventory (FFI). Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources Inc.
10.
Costa, P.T., Jr., & McCrae, R.R. (1995). Domains and facets: Hierarchical personality assessment using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. Journal of Personality Assessment, 64(1), 21-50.
11.
Darden, L.A. (1975). Personality correlates of clothing interest for a group of non-incarcerated and incarcerated women ages 18 to 30. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
12.
Davis, C., Dionne, M., & Shuster, B. (2001). Physical and psychological correlates of appearance orientation. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 21-30.
13.
Ditty, D.D. (1962). Social-psychological aspects of clothing preferences of college women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, theOhio State University, Columbus.
14.
Douce, P. (1969). Selected aspects of personality related to social acceptance and clothing oriented variables. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Utah State University, Logan.
15.
Goldsmith, R.E. (2002). Some personality traits of frequent clothing buyers . Journal of Fashion Marketing Management, 6(3), 303-316.
16.
Gurel, L.M., Wilbur, J.C., & Gurel, L. (1972). Personality correlates of adolescent clothing styles. Journal of Home Economics, 64(3), 42-47.
17.
Instant style: What's your beauty personality? Discover your signature look and learn to play it up perfectly. (1995, May). McCall's, 122(8), 34.
18.
John, O.P., & Srivastava, S. (1999). The big five trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and theoretical perspectives. In L. A. Pervin & O. P. John (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (2nd ed., pp. 102-138). New York: Guilford.
19.
Kahng, H. (1971). Clothing interests and clothing aspirations associated with selected social-psychological factors for a group of college women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Pennsylvania State University , Centre County.
20.
Kaiser, S.B. (1997). The social psychology of clothing: Symbolic appearances in context (2nd ed., rev.). New York: Fairchild Publications.
21.
Knapper, C.K. (1969). The relationship between personality and style of dress. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
22.
Kroeger, O.J., & Thuesen, J.M. (1988). Type talk: Or how to determine your personality type and change your life. New York: Delacorte Press.
23.
Lauer, R.H., & Lauer, J.C. (1981). Fashion power: The meaning of fashion in American society. Englewood Cliffs, NJ : Prentice Hall.
24.
Maddi, S.R. (1996). Personality theories: A comparative analysis (6th ed). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole .
25.
Matthews, G., & Deary, I.J. (1998). Personality traits. New York : Cambridge University Press.
26.
Matthews, L.B. (1963). College students' attitudes toward clothing and their relation to certain personality traits. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, theOhio State University, Columbus .
27.
McCrae, R.R., & Costa, P.T., Jr. (1994). The stability of personality: Observations and evaluations. Current Directions in Psychological Science , 3(6), 173-175.
28.
McCrae, R.R., & John, O.P. (1992). An introduction to the Five Factor Model and its applications. Journal of Personality, 60(2), 175-215.
29.
Pervin, L.A. (1996). The science of personality. New York: John Wiley.
30.
Rosenfeld, L.B., & Plax, T.G. (1977). Clothing as communication. Journal of Communication, 27(2), 24-31.
31.
Sheskin, D. (1994). The big five personality traits. Connecticut Review, pp. 55-62.
32.
Soloman, M.R., & Rabolt, N.J. (2004). Psychographics: Personality, attitudes and lifestyle . In Consumer behavior in fashion (pp. 249-288). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
33.
Stepat, D.L. (1949). A study of clothing and appearance problems in relation to some aspects of personality and some cultural patterns in a group of college freshman girls. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, New York University, New York.
34.
Taylor, L.C., & Compton, N.H. (1968). Personality correlates of dress conformity. Journal of Home Economics, 60(8), 653-656.
35.
Yours truly: What's your beauty personality? We have three beautiful looks—Choose the one you can call your own. (1995). Weight Watchers Magazine, 28(10), 34.
