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Friday, October 19. 2007

Masquerades and Clothing Signaling

I enjoyed The Barrister's intro to Signalling Theory, especially the lengthy biology link. It's really all just about non-verbal communication, isn't it?

To what extent is my public presentation (hair, clothes, deportment,  jewelry, etc.) designed to signal things about myself which I might want known, or to signal things about myself which might not be true?

And how much of conventionality and conformity is an effort to not signal anything personal? After all, there are many occasions in life when one's personal "stuff" is not welcome, wanted, or appreciated. And signaling one's conventionality is, in fact, signaling that one is clued in enough to know how to do that, when necessary.

At work in the office or at my Boston hospital, I tend towards Ann Taylor and Brooks  Brothers business wear, with either simple jewelry, or none. If everything is "text," as the dopey lit profs say these days, what's my message?

I suspect that people get into the most trouble when they signal messages unwittingly.

Our Editor wonders what this young Theo lady in the photo might be signaling, above and beyond "Check me out, dude."

Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss in Our Essays, Psychology, and Dr. Bliss, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 10:16 | Comments (11) | Trackbacks (0)

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I'd say that exhibitionism is a signal that one occupies--for one reason or another (in her case it may well be pure healthy appreciation of her own beauty)--an extraordinary position on the behavioral spectrum.

IOW, I have nothing worth saying, but said it anyway.
:-\
#1 buddy larsen on 2007-10-19 10:34 (Reply)
As for conventionality and conformity, I guess Ahmadinejad is signalling that his chest hairs will rule the world one day.

I'm so scared.
.
#2 Anonymous on 2007-10-19 10:45 (Reply)
*
As You Like It 2/7 ...... William Shakespeare...

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts

Dr. Joy

I have had the good fortune to "act on many stages , in real life. That of a CIA clandestine operative, a Beverly Hills IBM marketing representaive, and a Wall Street firm(s) broker. Those were jobs. I, of course modified them in my own time with my own personality, void of the characters one must play in each of those roles.

In the CIA, (the 1970's) I was in my 20's and dressed a good deal as a semi-long haired college kid. Rarely did I ever done a suit.

In my IBM years (1980-83) of my early 30's in Beverly Hills I was 180 lbs of lithe Italian suited, tanned, Southern California ,Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey , Manhattan Beach, Lotus sports car driving free love guy. It was a nice roll to play.

My brokerage years were suits, rules and selling clients what benefited me the most. A most bitter role and one I hated but had been prepared to perform by virtue of the amoral training received in the CIA and in Beverly Hills/SoCal.

My signalling in my early years was purely Freudian. Capturing the eye of the prettiest girl and bedding her. Possessed of good looks, an athletic body and a fun-above- all personality I did much to confirm Freud.

But much as the first part of the qoute from "As you Like It" is used, far less of the ending is quoted.

Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything

With fewer years in front of me than I have eclipsed already I see this quote with a much greater wisdom than the first time I read it.
Life is like that ,but I'm glad I did the first part the way I did and I'm satisfied with where I am now.....I could not ask for more.
#3 Habu on 2007-10-19 11:08 (Reply)
habu, I've got the title--when you finish the book I'll sell it to you for $1. seriously--
#3.1 buddy larsen on 2007-10-19 11:36 (Reply)
...er, to explain the "$1" --that way you "own" it, and need not fear the heirs and assigns of another party.
#4 buddy larsen on 2007-10-19 11:54 (Reply)
I'd be more than happy to discuss it with you...gotta finish the thing first...
#4.1 Habu on 2007-10-19 12:45 (Reply)
yeh me too--mine's coming along briskly. already got the first part of chapter one finished. here it is:
"The"
#4.1.1 buddy larsen on 2007-10-19 12:50 (Reply)
If you don't have that "the" copyrighted, I might borrow it. It's kinda catchy.
#4.1.1.1 BD on 2007-10-19 12:52 (Reply)
ah, damn...forgot my own advice
#4.1.1.1.1 buddy larsen on 2007-10-19 13:27 (Reply)
I'm awarding myself the Margaret Mitchell Award for 2007.

I'm now at the end of the books dedication.
#5 Habu on 2007-10-19 13:30 (Reply)
Anyone who has noted over the years the Clinton/China connection (Sandy Berger is back in the camp, too, y'know) will want to see this [via instapundit]:

http://instapundit.com/archives2/010678.php
#6 buddy larsen on 2007-10-19 15:05 (Reply)

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