Dressing For Work Meghan Baker, Kayla Blochowiak, Shelby VanHouten, Sarah Wick & Regan A. R. Gurung University of Wisconsin, Green Bay INTRODUCTION METHOD RESULTS & DISCUSSION ABSTRACT Why should we care about being careful when selecting clothing options for work? Work attire plays a key role in self-perception, how you think others view you, and achieve higher status/power (Peluchette,, Karl, & Rust, 2006). For example, Glick, Larsen, Johnson, and Branstiter (2005) showed that dressing provocatively can help women who fulfill serving roles: hostesses, waitresses, secretaries, but hurt women in business and career roles that are typically seen as jobs for men (Glick et al., 2005). Different types of clothing send different messages. Clothing embellishes, enhances, or decorates thebody (Entwistle, 2000), and the type of clothing worn can sway first impressions (Cahoon & Edmonds, 1989). Morris, Gorham, Cohen, and Huffman did a study on clothing choice and the influence it has on our perceptions of people in 1996 on college professors and the perceptions of their students. This study investigated the affects of instructor’s attire on their student’s perceptions of them (Morris, Gorham, Cohen, and Huffman, 1996). The conditions included formal casual, casual professional, and casual dress conditions (Morris, Gorham, Cohen, and Huffman, 1996). The results found that formal dress attire was associated with increased ratings of instructor competence but the instructors in the casual dress condition were found to have the most positive influences on the students (Morris, Gorham, Cohen, and Huffman, 1996). This research used a 2 x 2 within study design with Buttons (2 or 3 undone) x Layers (Undershirt or no-undershirt) as the main independent variables. We photographed four models as seen. The dependent variables were 15 different attributes. Participants also rated models based on how likely they would be to hire that person for different levels of work throughout a company. Our study showed that even subtle changes in clothing can make a large difference in how women are perceived in zero- acquaintance situations (i.e., viewing strangers). When our models were seen with buttons done up or with buttons and an undershirt on, there were rated as more intelligent, competent, and a range of attributes as shown in the graph above. Women with buttons undone with a cami on beneath were rated the most negatively. Surprisingly, women with buttons undone were seen as more powerful. Having a cami show through may have weakened the effect of being buttoned up. Although the models looked professional in all the pictures, impression formation clearly varied across conditions. Our results suggest even women in managerial positions need to be aware of the effects subtle clothing changes can have. Presented at the 2015 Midwestern Psychological Society’s Annual Conference. Chicago, IL. Do subtle clothing changes influence our unconscious views of someone? We focus on the interaction between provocativeness of female work attire and occupational status. Our study tests unconscious perceptions of women in the workplace based on subtle changes in the amount of skin showing and whether or not the woman is wearing an undershirt. In this study we had 129 University of Wisconsin, Green Bay students as participants. We test them to see how they rate the women based on different attributes related to the workplace as well as how likely they would be to hire them for different positions throughout a company. We found that subtle changes make a difference. Women with buttons were rated as more intelligent, competent, and essentially more positive in every way. Unbuttoned with Undershirt Buttoned with undershirt Buttoned without undershirt Unbuttoned without Undershirt