A Study of the Relationship between the Status Symbol of Clothing and Social-Psychological Variables

의복의 신분상징성과 사회심리학적 변인과의 상관연구 -서울의 가정주부를 중심으로-

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between clothing interests in the status symbol and the exhibition need and status inconsistency. The exhibition need was measured by Murray's statements on need and some items selected from The Need Diagnosis Scale of Jaung-Kyu Whang. Status inconsistency was measured by the same criteria of Lenski. Three aspects of clothing interests-the status symbol, the fashion and the exhibitionism-were assessed. The questionnaires were distributed to the housewives in Seoul. Data from 511 respondents were analyzed by correlations and $x^2$-tests. The results were: 1) The exhibition need was positively related to interests in the status symbol and exhibitionism of clothing. 2) Status inconsistency was positively related to clothing interests in the status symbol and fashion. 3) The degree of clothing interests in the status symbol and fashion were also positively related to the clothing expenditure and the socioeconomic status of the sample.