Costume can change wearer's mentality

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Halloween is the perfect time to try something new, whether it be a piece of candy, a crazy outfit, or, in some cases, a personality.

“I feel more confident in any dress-up situation, even on a regular going-out night, not just on Halloween,” said Erin Cooney, an interior design junior. “When you have something out of the norm for you, it’s easier to be more forward.”

Although Cooney said she plans on emulating Marilyn Monroe’s look come Oct. 31, she doesn’t plan on emulating Monroe’s personality. Still, she said dressing up can yield more self-confidence and sometimes can lower inhibitions.

People use costumes to communicate private aspects of the self, according to a University of Kentucky study. The findings also indicated that females dress to emulate sexual fantasies and childhood memories more so than men. The study surveyed 190 individuals who dress in costume.

Callie Frey, an art history senior and Cooney’s roommate, said she agrees that Halloween and themed parties in general have a different set of rules than a typical night out.

“When you think of a themed party, it’s always a little more exciting getting ready and everything,” she said. “It’s more fun.”

Frey said she has some friends who act differently in costume and others who don’t seem to be affected by the change in appearance.

One unavoidable aspect of Halloween, according to “Mean Girls” and many MSU students, is the “slut factor.”

“I’ve seen it happen here,” Jon Gougeon said. “I mean, plenty of girls use (Halloween) as an excuse to dress slutty for a night.”

Gougeon, a telecommunication, information studies and media junior, said he feels and acts the same on Halloween as he does every other day, but it’s obvious that a number of students act differently when they’re in costume.

“If it’s not really your personality to dress like that all the time, you might be acting differently too.”

Chris Walsh, a history junior, said he personally witnessed his friends’ behavior change last Halloween when they dressed up as Playboy bunnies and other seemingly provocative characters.

“It depends on the person,” he said. “Some people probably use (Halloween) as a chance to be someone who you’re not really all the time.”

Despite students’ shift in behavior when dressed in costume, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said the number of disturbances does not increase during Halloween weekend.

“In terms of hearing about more disturbances or anything like that, I can’t recall,” McGlothian-Taylor said.

While students have noticed females taking on different personas when dressed in skimpy Minnie Mouse and Little Bo Peep costumes, the idea that similar behavioral changes apply to males as well is not widely discussed.

“(Guys) dress up in the spirit of Halloween, not for personal reasons,” said Amethyst Coleman, a biomechanical engineering junior. “Guys (dress up) for the fun of dressing up rather than trying to get attention.”

Coleman said she always sees girls hopping around Halloween parties in Playboy bunny outfits sporting more than just ears and a tail.

“They have these big attitudes and they act more excited about themselves and usually act more flirtatious, too,” she said. “On Halloween you’re supposed to be scary, not slutty.”

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