General Information about Item:

• Superstition
• Language: English
• Origin: Dartmouth College
• Informant: Anonymous
• Date Collected: March 8, 2018

Informant Data:

• The informant is from Queens, New York. He was raised in an upper-middle class Jewish family, although he does not practice the faith. He has 2 older brothers and is currently a senior at Dartmouth College. He is 22 years old. The informant requested anonymity for this collection.

Contextual Data:

• Social Context: The informant found that comfort and confidence often assisted him in taking exams under pressure. Given that the informant is graduating early, his workload throughout his years at Dartmouth has been rigorous and test-heavy. This environment conditioned the informant to ensure he was confident and comfortable for when exams rolled around.
• Cultural Context: Most people find that their clothes serve them as a unique form of expression. Individuals choose outfits that best fit occasions, make statements about individuality of character, and are comfortable. The informant has always appreciated the value of being well dressed, whether it be formal wear or high quality casual wear, and believes that he performs better in situations where he feels comfortable in his clothes. Underwear is no exception.

Item:

• The informant wears any of an assortment of “good pairs” of underwear for exams, something he described as being of a certain material to maximize comfort.

Informant’s Comments:

• Certain clothes just make you feel good. They give off a positive aura when taking an exam.

Collector’s Comments:

• Many people have this technique of wearing certain good clothing for an exam. Like “Dress Well Test Well,” certain clothes are associated with the magical quality of success.

Collector’s Name: Spencer Ross

Tags/Keywords:

• Superstition
• Underwear