Perceptions based on the clothing people wear is the topic of the next OSU-Cascades Science Pub

Oregon State University; Oregon State University - Cascades; OSU-Cascades; Science Pub; Clothing
Regan A. R. Gurung is a social psychologist and professor of psychological sciences in OSU's College of Liberal Arts.
Dec. 18, 2020

The connection between the clothing people wear and how others perceive them will be the topic of the Oregon State University Science Pub on Jan. 11.

The virtual event, a joint effort of Oregon State University in Corvallis and OSU-Cascades in Bend, will feature a talk by Regan A. R. Gurung, a professor of psychological science in Oregon State’s College of Liberal Arts and interim executive director of OSU’s Center for Teaching and Learning.

Gurung, whose talk is titled “Seeing Through Clothes: Impression Formation, Prejudice & Sexism,” is a social psychologist whose research encompasses social, health, and teaching psychology.

One area of his research focuses on perceptions based on the clothing people wear. He points out that job status, sociability, income, health and fitness can be perceived from clothing. People use categories when describing others and learn what types of clothing are associated with categories or labels.

Different types of clothing send different messages, he says. For example, men perceive women in revealing clothing as being more flirtatious, seductive, promiscuous and less capable and intelligent. African American men in sweatpants are viewed more negatively than when dressed formally.

Gurung will address whether sexism and prejudice can be reduced if people change what they wear.

The free Science Pub will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The event will be broadcast on YouTube Live. Registration is required and can be completed at: https://sciencepub-seeingthroughclothes.eventbrite.com.

Sponsors of Science Pub include the OSU Office of Research, OSU-Cascades in Bend and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Connect Central Oregon, a collaborative program with the OSU-Cascades Innovation Co-Lab, will produce the event with student interns.

About OSU-Cascades: Oregon State University’s campus in Bend, Ore. features outstanding faculty in degree programs that reflect Central Oregon’s vibrant economy and abundant natural resources. Nearly 20 undergraduate majors, 35 minors and options, and three graduate programs include computer science, energy systems engineering, kinesiology, hospitality management, and tourism, recreation and adventure leadership. OSU-Cascades expanded to a four-year university in 2015; its new campus opened in 2016.