Social and Psychological Aspects

The Prime Aesthetic: Imprinted Aesthetic Dress Preferences

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Abstract

The purpose of this research was to explore a new concept, the Prime Aesthetic (PA). The PA is defined as the cumulative aesthetic dress preferences (ADP) imprinted from all influences during an individual's Prime, theoretically situated during the sensitive period of emerging adulthood (EA). Prior research indicate there are developmental periods where individuals become hypersensitive to the impression of aesthetic tastes. Studies on aesthetic tastes in music has found that there are developmental periods where individuals become hypersensitive to the impression of aesthetic preferences. This study expands on those findings to investigate if development of ADP remain the same over the lifespan and if ADP are imprinted during EA. Thirty female participants born before 1992 were interviewed. 66.7% of the participants indicated that their ADP were established during EA, with a mean age of 29.03. Findings indicate that individual's ADP potentially remain relatively static based on preferences imprinted during EA.

Keywords: Aesthetics, Emerging Adulthood, Dress Preferences, Theory Development, Human Development

How to Cite:

Bernardoni, J. M. & Stannard, C. R., (2022) “The Prime Aesthetic: Imprinted Aesthetic Dress Preferences”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 79(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.15850