Role conflict and conformity in dress

In this study we proceeded from the general theoretical position that dress is a significant element in role enactment and addressed the specific question of why there is apparent conflict regarding what form of dress is appropriate to enactment of the role of the Roman Catholic priest. Data analyzed were drawn from a study of 5,475 American Catholic priests. Priests who conformed to church regulations regarding dress differed from nonconformists in their beliefs about their roles as priests and in their opinions of church reform, commitment to the priesthood, feelings of anomie, rank within the priesthood, and age.