Decoding the Science Behind Dopamine Dressing

 

In our era of digitalisation, where every technology shark tries to reduce our attention span and stimulate our dopamine rushes to increase the engagement levels in their content. It is easy for us to get lost amidst the informational paradox and negativity surrounding us and prey on our esteem and self-confidence. But fortunately, the power to make ourselves feel instantly better lies in our hands, the beauty and prowess of playing with our couture to complement our mood and boost our morale is applaudatory. Dopamine dressing is the art of strategically dressing in clothing that feeds optimism in our self-perception, inducing a dopamine hit and forcing us to be more confident in ourselves.

The interrelation between our fashion style and mental well-being is increasingly gaining the spotlight as magazines highlight the recent outrage of dopamine dressing. The trend urges people to clothe themselves in apparel that makes them feel happy and content about themselves. Moreover, this trend holds more significance than the beyond-surface level of dressing. The texture and clothing style we wear enhance our mood, Psychologist Karen Pine in her book Mind What You Wear, The Psychology of Fashion explains that our wardrobe and the way we dress and present ourselves significantly impact our emotions and potentially shape our self-perception and thoughts.

Decoding the Science Behind Dopamine Dressing

Scholars have discovered a theory called “enclothed cognition,” which postulates that our performance and psychology can be influenced by the symbolic meaning that clothes have for us. Therefore, the most important thing is to wear something that makes you feel good, whether that something is colourful, attractive, or just comfortable. The brain produces hormones named dopamine which is also known as the happy hormone that holds a massive impact on our motivation, state of emotions and attention span. We can feel melancholic when our dopamine levels are low and joy can be felt when our levels of dopamine are high. Colours also have a profound effect on our mental health, historically colour has been used in practices of therapy.

Chromotherapy was a practice prevalent in ancient cultures and is still used as an alternative and holistic medicine today. The fascination with the effects of colour dates back centuries, but the study of colour psychology is relatively new. Ancient cultures used different shades in a variety of spiritual rituals, as well as for therapeutic and emotional purposes. How does it impact our emotional and physical well-being? While perception of hues may differ from person to person, some colour effects are universally understood. Warm colours can arouse a variety of emotions, from coziness and warmth to wrath and animosity.

On the other hand, cool tones, which include shades of blue, purple, and green on the blue spectrum, are often linked to calmness but can also elicit emotions of melancholy or apathy. Colorology is still helpful and relevant as an alternative therapy in the modern era. Red is associated with boosting both physical and mental activity and enhancing blood flow. Yellow is believed to energize the nervous system and cleanse the body. Orange is linked to lung health and increased vitality. Blue is thought to provide relief from ailments and reduce pain. Indigo tones are considered beneficial for skin conditions. Although further studies are required, 2020 research indicated that chromotherapy could help address compassion fatigue and post-traumatic stress among nurses working in intensive care units.

Wearing your favourite couture to enhance your self-perception

Wearing what you feel like is a very subjective and generic notion when we talk about dopamine dressing. While it is true in a broader sense, our sense of style and fashion varies from one another, considering our conditioning and cultural upbringing when it comes to colour and couture. A colour that could hold a joyful contextual meaning to one individual might evoke a completely different emotion in another, as we as humans tend to hold and see different tonal perceptions in the light of our personal experiences and the memories that we bear in the due course of our existence. So while many style critics and magazines vouch for unconventional and bright-coloured themes as the next big thing, the notion of blazing apparel palettes might sound too jazzy for some.

It all depends on how you see each colour and what makes you feel your best self. Finding the precise elements that make you feel good can take more thought, regardless of how well-defined your sense of style is or how many outfits you own that go together. To begin with dopamine dressing, we should become more self-aware of our mood and dressing style.

Selecting clothes we enjoy and feel good in—rather than worrying about how others might judge us—can promote our practices of healthy self-validation. By viewing ourselves positively, we may reduce negative self-thought and lessen the urge to compare ourselves to others. How one draws joy from clothing can vary from how it makes them appear outwardly to the comfort they feel in it. Ultimately, recognizing the impact of dressing in a way that boosts confidence can foster self-validation and a sense of inner beauty.

Stepping outside our comfort zone

The growing popularity of dopamine dressing is most likely not a coincidence. Dopamine is released when you dress how you want to, and that freedom is its reward. Stepping outside our comfort zone and trying new things can help boost our self-esteem. According to research, attempting new things can improve mental health. However, if you consider taking chances with fashion and dressing more outrageously as your take on dopamine dressing, you might also need to develop a newfound sense of self-assurance and confidence. Ultimately the crux of the discussion belies to be your outlook on how you wish to dress yourself. Whether it is wearing new outfits for grocery shopping or stepping outside and embracing discomfort and radical change in the way you dress, it should make you feel happy and confident in your skin wherever you go.

-Hridya Sharma

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