title: Can you pull it off? Appearance modifying behaviours adopted by wig users with alopecia in social interactions.
abstract: In the academic and medical literature on alopecia, wigs (hair prostheses) are typically recommended as a coping strategy: a device to camouflage, conceal, or cover hair loss, and cope with the psychological impact of a dramatic change in body image. This paper used Goffman's (1959) theory of impression management to demonstrate (a) the social significance of self-presentation, and (b) how adults with alopecia managed their wig use in their daily lives. Data from 14 interviews, two focus groups and six video diaries with 22 Caucasian adults (19 females, 3 males; 29-74 years, SD=13.75) with alopecia in Scotland were analysed using discursive psychology. The analysis detailed how participants managed their wig use and behaviours in relation to social interaction with different categories of people. The paper raises concerns about health and medical discourse about wigs as a coping mechanism, and provides practical suggestions for wig users in social settings.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. Electronic address: sally.wiggins@strath.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.affiliation: Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow UK.
authors.forename: Karena
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore-Millar
authors.affiliation: Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow UK.
authors.forename: Avril
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Alopecia; Camouflage; Coping; Goffman; Self-presentation; Wig