​Dress​ ​for​ ​Success: ​ ​Cosplay​ ​and​ ​Relationship​ ​Dynamics​

Across​ ​group​ ​studies,​ ​identifying​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​one​ ​group​ ​over​ ​the​ ​other​ ​is​ ​instrumental​ ​in determining​ ​the​ ​traits​ ​of​ ​an​ ​individual’s​ ​personality.​ ​Furthermore,​ ​when​ ​someone’s​ ​style​ ​of​ ​dress causes​ ​them​ ​to​ ​fit​ ​into​ ​a​ ​group,​ ​their​ ​personality​ ​is​ ​likely​ ​to​ ​be​ ​dictated​ ​by​ ​what​ ​they​ ​are​ ​wearing and​ ​who​ ​they​ ​are​ ​with.​ ​Attendees​ ​of​ ​comic​ ​conventions​ ​have​ ​been​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​growing​ ​trend​ ​to dress​ ​up​ ​as​ ​their​ ​favorite​ ​characters​ ​from​ ​different​ ​anime,​ ​manga,​ ​television​ ​shows,​ ​books,​ ​video games,​ ​etc.,​ ​where​ ​they​ ​can​ ​meet​ ​like-minded​ ​people​ ​who​ ​share​ ​similar​ ​interests​ ​and​ ​hobbies. When​ ​combining​ ​changes​ ​of​ ​affect,​ ​and​ ​similarities​ ​of​ ​cultural​ ​and​ ​group​ ​identification,​ ​the likelihood​ ​to​ ​engage​ ​in​ ​a​ ​romantic​ ​relationship​ ​may​ ​become​ ​heightened.​ ​Using​ ​existing​ ​measures to​ ​examine​ ​commitment,​ ​sociosexual​ ​orientation​ ​and​ ​relationship​ ​satisfaction,​ ​1232​ ​convention attendees​ ​responded​ ​to​ ​measures​ ​addressing​ ​their​ ​current​ ​or​ ​most​ ​recent​ ​relationship.​ ​The respondents​ ​were​ ​split​ ​into​ ​4​ ​groups,​ ​individuals​ ​who​ ​are​ ​currently​ ​in​ ​a​ ​relationship​ ​and​ ​cosplay, individuals​ ​who​ ​are​ ​currently​ ​in​ ​a​ ​relationship​ ​and​ ​do​ ​not​ ​cosplay,​ ​individuals​ ​who​ ​are​ ​currently single​ ​and​ ​cosplay,​ ​and​ ​individuals​ ​who​ ​are​ ​currently​ ​in​ ​a​ ​relationship​ ​and​ ​do​ ​not​ ​cosplay. Results​ ​indicated​ ​non-significant​ ​results​ ​in​ ​the​ ​two​ ​groups​ ​that​ ​are​ ​not​ ​in​ ​relationships,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as non-cosplaying​ ​attendees​ ​currently​ ​in​ ​a​ ​relationship,​ ​for​ ​all​ ​the​ ​measures,​ ​while​ ​there​ ​were​ ​weak, significant​ ​results​ ​for​ ​sociosexual​ ​orientation​ ​and​ ​relationship​ ​satisfaction​ ​for​ ​individuals​ ​who are​ ​in​ ​relationships​ ​and​ ​also​ ​cosplay.​ ​Limitations​ ​and​ ​future​ ​directions​ ​are​ ​discussed.