Hello!
I never thought these words would leave my minimalist self’s mouth: maybe what you wear does matter. Read on for one intriguing research study + a fun tip for boosting your emotional intelligence practice.
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People generally associate doctors with attentiveness, but would wearing a doctor’s clothes really make you more attentive? In 2012, the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology published this research demonstrating that what you wear affects how you perform.
Researchers asked participants in this study to do an attention-related test (the Stroop task, for you psychology nerds…), and the researchers recorded their scores. Surprisingly, when the participants wore a doctor’s white lab coat, a symbol associated with attentiveness, they scored significantly better on the Stroop task. Wow– simply putting on a white coat made the participants significantly more attentive! But was it just the white coat? And did they really have to wear it to find an increase in attention? The researchers tried a few other variable tests:
What happened when the participants simply looked at the doctor’s white lab coat? The increase in attention disappeared.
What happened when the participants wore the exact same white coat, but it was described as a painter’s coat, rather than a doctor’s coat? The increase in attention disappeared.
To successfully increase attention, participants had to 1: Physically wear the white coat, and 2: associate the white coat with a symbol of attentiveness (the doctor).
I’m not suggesting we all walk around wearing white lab coats, but I imagine each of us could use this lesson to bolster our emotional intelligence goals. How could changing something you wear boost your own illuminating aspirations?
The trick of converting what you’ve learned from this study to your real life emotional intelligence goals is this: you need to think of something wearable you already associate with your goal. Here’s how:
- Identify an EQ goal you’ve been working on. For me, it’s being less of a perfectionist.
- Brainstorm a wearable item that you already associate with your goal. What wearable item reminds you of patience, thoughtfulness, boldness, or whatever your goal may be? For example, when I think of someone who’s more willing to be creative and make mistakes, I think of some artsy, free-flowing shirt.
- Pencil into your calendar this week a time to find/make/borrow your wearable item. I think I have time to go to the thrift store tomorrow!
- Wear it + let us know how it goes! (Do you already have that “special something” you wear to feel differently? Share that, too!)
What’s your goal + your wearable item? When will you try on your wearable item?
How could you use this activity with other people in your life? Especially with kids, I think it would be fun to help them identify their goals + create something wearable to boost their efforts.
Why do you think the participants performed so much better on the Stroop task simply by changing an article of clothing? How else could you convince yourself that you’re capable of something greater? (maybe a daily affirmation?)
See you next week!
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Dear Maria,
You have brought up an interesting topic. I completely agree with human nature of getting naturally more confident in certain outfits. Even I do. But these days, I think when our confidence or performance outcome rely 100% on our skills rather than associating with any material related, or for that matter to any temporarily associated things, we can be sure we are going to get the result. I would love to hear your opinion on this.
Hi Navneetha! I’m afraid I don’t completely understand what you’re saying. Do you mean that it is worrisome that confidence might come from something outside of our skill?
Hi Maria, this confirms what I have thought for a long time. I run business training courses and recently one of my clients told me that she wears high heeled shoes when she is negotiating with her suppliers because it makes her feel more confident and assertive in the negotiation. She actually believes that it affects the outcome of the negotiations!
Then there is this: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/The%20Red%20Sneakers%20Effect%202014_4657b733-84f0-4ed6-a441-d401bbbac19d.pdf
How do you incorporate how others view you (non-conforming = higher status) into this equation?
Very interesting study! Thanks for sharing! I think the study I am talking about is not so interested in what others think, but rather how you think of yourself. For example, if the person wearing the red sneakers in the office has a goal of being bolder and more daring, and she associates red sneakers with being bold and daring, she would be following the study I laid out. I don’t think people necessarily need to conform to get the effect they want; they need to wear something they themselves associate with what they want. However, it’s validating to know there’s some research out there telling us we don’t need to conform to be accepted/ respected!!
Hi Maria
I was just reflecting on this and a few examples came to mind. My son always wears his Lionel Messi outfit when playing soccer with his friends on the playground. He actually comes home to put it on before going to play soccer if they were engaged in anything else before and from his feedback afterwards, I can see he really enjoyed the game. Another example is people who do exercise or go to the gym. when you wear the proper sports attire , you just feel good and seem to have a better workout, really pushing the exercises a bit more that what you would having worn just any other shorts and T-Shirt. Thank you for your articles, it makes a difference and really inspiring.
Hi Zahir– what great examples! Thanks for sharing. I absolutely love the visual of your son running home from the playground to put on his Messi jersey before running back to play soccer! <3
I truly believe that what we wear totally affects our emotional intelligence. For example, I’m in the sales/management industry. When I dress up, I feel a great level of confidence. As they say, when you look good you feel good. When I dress down, I don’t feel as confident. Great topic!
Thanks for sharing, Melissa! Indeed, if you associate dressing up with confidence, then it’s a good trick to have in your back pocket! 🙂
And here I was just thinking about being an astronaut. Based on this research, now I know what to do! 🙂
Yes! Love it! Can’t wait to see you walking around in your space suit.
Hello Maria,
This was super interesting. I think your idea is terrific and highly transferrable to anyone in any situation when the person wants to feel, and convey, more confidence. Bravo. Warm regards, Barbara Lang
Thank you for your kind words, Barbara! I thought it was fascinating, too. Please do share if you find an EQ “wearable” 🙂