我型故我在：Cosplay玩家心理大起底

Mindy+Weisberger

Cosplay作為一种小众文化，并不总能得到大众的理解。看着cosplay玩家身着奇装异服，扮成电影、动漫中的各色人物招摇过市，很多人都会觉得讶异，同时心中生出疑问：为何有人要这样做？你如果以为他们只是想吸引眼球，那可真就误会人家了。因为更多时候，他们都是想通过不一样的外形和面孔来表达隐藏的自我。

With Halloween just around the corner， everyone seems to have costumes on their minds. People who typically wear jeans and T-shirts are suddenly eyeing1） colorful spandex2）， capes， wigs and corsets3）， and are opening their wallets to acquire an outfit that will present them to the world as someone—or something—theyre not.

But for people who cosplay—dress in costumes to role-play characters from movies， TV shows， books， comics and video games—the challenge of transformation is one they happily accept at various times year-round.

Cosplayers can invest considerable time， money and effort into crafting or commissioning4） head-to-toe presentations that are one-of-a-kind. Some creations include enormous accessories， facial or body prosthetics5）， working electronics or complex mechanical parts. Other costumes limit how well the wearers can see or move， making it difficult for them to sit， or navigate a room， without help.

But what inspires cosplayers to reinvent themselves so elaborately？ Cosplayers and psychologists who study the phenomenon reveal the individual and community features that make dressing up so enticing and rewarding.

For the Love of Costumes

From Oct. 6 to 9， hundreds of cosplayers attended New York Comic Con6） 2016， costumed as superheroes and supervillains， Jedi7） and Sith8）， Ghostbusters9）， Starfleet10） officers， Hogwarts11） students and teachers， and many， many other characters.

“Cosplay makes me happy，” Edgar Roldan， a cosplayer and NYCC attendee， told Live Science12） recently. Roldan—who wore a furry， blue suit and an oversize head to represent Happy13） from Fairy Tale—said the most satisfying part of cosplay was “just being you—being whatever and whoever you want.”

Other NYCC cosplayers said cosplay allowed them to explore their own creativity， particularly when much of their costume was handmade. Joe Bokanoski and Mike Labarge told Live Science that they assembled their costumes—post-apocalyptic14） interpretations of DC Comics15） Captain America and his nemesis16）， Red Skull17）—by scouring flea markets and junkyards.

Their outfits were bulky and cumbersome. But despite the discomfort， they were enthusiastic about wearing them and seeing the appreciative reactions they provoked. “Its worth it just to put some smiles on peoples faces，” Bokanoski said.endprint

Inhabiting18） a Character

When a cosplayer selects a particular costume， they are often tapping into19） a specific character—or combination of characters—because something about that role speaks to them personally， according to Robin S. Rosenberg， a clinical psychologist at the University of California， San Francisco.

Rosenberg， who has written extensively about how people interpret and embrace fictional characters， particularly superheroes， told Live Science that she became interested in studying cosplay after seeing cosplayers in convention centers where she was delivering talks.

“We know from psychology that we all play different roles through the day and week，” Rosenberg said. “Different aspects of me—‘psychologist ‘wife ‘mother—come to the fore in different contexts. I became curious about people who truly inhabit a role， and whats coming to the fore when you wear a costume.”

Certain costumes offer some people a way of working through personal difficulties， Rosenberg said. Batman， for example， can be an especially meaningful cosplay choice for someone coping with trauma. The dark superhero faced devastating trauma when he was a child—witnessing the brutal murder of his parents—which he overcame to become a hero.

“When people are dressed as Batman， many talk about having [experienced] their own traumatic experiences，” Rosenberg said. “He survived and found meaning and purpose from his experience， and that is inspiring to them.”

Rosenberg noted that Wonder Woman is another enduring and popular choice that resonates with many women， partly because she holds her own in the male-dominated world of costumed comics superheroes. For those cosplayers， dressing as Wonder Woman is a way of celebrating and embracing her power， Rosenberg said.

Cosplay is a type of performance； putting on a costume broadcasts a visible and public statement about the dresser uppers allegiance20） to a character or fandom， and it frequently moves strangers to approach the character for conversation and photos. So it surprised Rosenberg to discover from her conversations with cosplayers that many identified as introverts.

“When they wore a costume， they became much more socially outgoing，” Rosenberg said. She explained that， sometimes， wearing a costume allows a person to tap into confidence they didnt know they had， and helps them overcome shyness in real life.

“When you do any kind of costuming—but particularly cosplay—on the one hand， it gives you permission to step outside yourself，” Rosenberg said. “But on the other hand， it can summon something in you that doesnt usually come out.”endprint

Building a Community

Costume play not only imbues powers upon individuals but also fosters a sense of community， according to Michael Nguyen， a cosplayer and costuming columnist for the Star Trek news website Trekmovie.com. Star Trek was Nguyens gateway to cosplay， he told Live Science. And through creating and wearing Star Trek costumes， he discovered a rich and widespread network of people who shared his interest in the characters and in the world they inhabited.

“Theyre physicians， attorneys， in Ph.D. programs—just people who enjoy expressing themselves， and what they hope the future to be.” And cosplayers come from all walks of life， he added.

“Costuming is more fun if you do it with other people，” Nguyen told Live Science. “You create your own look， but you also feel like part of a universe when you surround yourself with people who enjoy it as much as you do.”

Cosplayers at NYCC agreed. A woman dressed as She-Ra： Princess of Power21） from the TV show Masters of the Universe told Live Science that “the acceptance” was the best part of doing cosplay.

“It doesnt matter who you are or what you look like，” she said. “Its a community—its like a big family. Once a year， I come and I see people I havent seen but once a year， and its just great.”

Another woman costumed as a Hogwarts student from the Harry Potter books and movies described participating in a “flashmob22）” at NYCC， where 75 attendees in Potterverse cosplay came together for a photo—and for one group member to propose to his girlfriend.

“Its wearing your interests on your body，” she said. “Its a really great way to bridge the gap and find the common ground.”

Cosplay

隨着万圣节的临近，大家似乎都在琢磨穿什么服装。一向穿牛仔裤和T恤衫的人突然开始考虑五颜六色的氨纶面料的衣服、斗篷、假发以及紧身胸衣，他们会掏腰包购买一套服装，以另一副面孔或某一样东西的样子示人。

但是对于玩cosplay的人而言，他们在一年中的各个时间都乐意接受变形的挑战。他们穿着道具服装，扮演电影、电视节目、书籍、漫画及电子游戏中的各色人物。

Cosplay玩家们会投入大量的时间、金钱和精力，精心制作或委托他人制作从头到脚独一无二的全套行头。有些行头创意十足，包括庞大的配饰、面部或身体假体、运转的电子道具或复杂的机械部件。还有一些行头会使穿戴者的视力或行动受限，要是没人帮忙，他们很难坐下或是在室内行走。

可是，是什么激励着cosplay玩家，让他们如此精心地重塑自我呢？这些玩家和研究该现象的心理学家揭示了一些使扮装如此诱人、如此令人充实的个体和群体特征。

出于对扮装的热爱

从10月6日至9日，数以百计的cosplay玩家参加了2016年美国纽约国际动漫展（编注：英文原文发表于2016年11月），他们纷纷扮成超级英雄或超级坏蛋，其中包括绝地武士、西斯、超能敢死队、星际舰队的军官、霍格沃茨魔法学校的师生以及许许多多其他人物。

“扮装使我快乐。”参加NYCC的cosplay玩家埃德加·罗尔丹最近这样告诉直播科学栏目。罗尔丹身着一件毛茸茸的蓝色套装，外加一个超大号的头套，扮成了《妖精的尾巴》中的哈比。他说cosplay最让人满足之处在于“只做你自己——想成为什么就成为什么，想成为谁就成为谁”。

其他参加NYCC的cosplay玩家说，cosplay能让他们拓展自己的创造力，尤其在手工制作大部分服装的情况下。乔·博卡诺斯基和迈克·拉巴奇告诉直播科学栏目，他们在跳蚤市场和垃圾场搜寻材料，组装他们的服装——再现了DC漫画公司的美国队长及其劲敌红骷髅的后世界末日形象。endprint

他们的行头庞大又笨重。但是尽管不舒服，他们仍然很喜欢穿，热衷于看到自己引发他人的赞赏反应。“能给人们带来一些笑容，就是值得的。”博卡诺斯基说。

融入角色

来自旧金山加利福尼亚大学的临床心理学家罗宾·S·罗森堡认为，cosplay玩家选择某件特定的服装时，他们往往会利用某个特定的角色——或者角色组合——因为角色的某些特质引起了他们的共鸣。

罗森堡曾写过大量作品，描述人们如何理解并接受虚拟人物，尤其是超级英雄。她告诉直播科学栏目，她在会议中心发表演讲时看到了cosplay玩家，之后便有了研究cosplay的兴趣。

“心理学告诉我们，我们所有人一天到晚都在扮演不同的角色，”罗森堡说，“‘心理学家‘妻子‘母亲——我的不同方面在不同情景呈现。我对那些真正进入角色的人很好奇，对人扮装后呈现出的样子也很好奇。”

“某些服装给一些人提供了克服个人困难的方法。”罗森堡说。比如对于受到创伤的人来说，蝙蝠侠是一种具有特别意义的扮装选择。这位超级黑暗英雄小时候遭受了非常严重的创伤——目睹双亲被残忍杀害——他克服了創伤，成了英雄。

“许多人扮成蝙蝠侠时，会谈论他们自己拥有[经历过]的创伤经历，”罗森堡说，“蝙蝠侠从创伤中走出来，并从这一经历中找到了意义和目的，这令他们感到鼓舞。”

罗森堡指出，神奇女侠是另一个经久不衰、颇受欢迎的选择，引起了许多女性的共鸣。部分原因在于，在cosplay玩家模仿的动漫超级英雄的世界里，男性占了主导，但神奇女侠坚持了自我。对于那些cosplay玩家来说，扮成神奇女侠是对其力量的一种颂扬和认同，罗森堡说。

Cosplay是一种表演；穿上服装就公开表达了扮装者对某个角色或崇拜对象的热爱，这时常促使陌生人接近这个角色，与之交谈或合影。因此，罗森堡从其与cosplay玩家的交谈中惊奇地发现，许多玩家都自认为是内向者。

“穿上服装后，他们变得更外向、更善于社交。”罗森堡说。她解释道，有时穿着扮装会让人找到他们以前不知道的自信，并帮助他们克服现实生活中的羞怯。

“你穿道具服装时，不管是哪种服装，尤其玩cosplay时，一方面你可以走出自我，”罗森堡说，“但另一方面，这能激发出你身上通常表现不出来的东西。”

构建团体

迈克尔·阮既是一位cosplay玩家，又是《星际迷航》新闻网站Trekmovie.com的服装设计专栏作家。他认为，扮装不仅赋予个人力量，而且培养团队意识。他告诉直播科学栏目，《星际迷航》开启了他走向cosplay的大门。通过创作、穿着星际迷航服装，他发现了一个丰富且广泛存在的人际网络，里面的人和他一样对这部电影中的人物及其所处的世界充满兴趣。

“这些人中有医生，有律师，有的在攻读博士学位，都是些喜欢表达自我的人，喜欢告诉别人他们希望未来变成什么样。”他补充说，cosplay的玩家来自各行各业。

“如果你和其他人一起扮装，会更有意思。”阮告诉直播科学栏目，“你创造自己的外表，但是当你置身于和你一样乐在其中的人群时，你会觉得自己是某个宇宙的一部分。”

参加NYCC的cosplay玩家们一致认同。一位扮成电视节目《宇宙的巨人》中的希瑞公主的女士告诉直播科学栏目，“接纳”是cosplay最棒的部分。

“你是谁或者你外表怎样都无关紧要，”她说，“这是一个团体——就像一个大家庭一样。一年一次，我来到这里，见到每年只见一次的人，感觉好极了。”

另一位女士扮装成了《哈利·波特》系列书籍和电影中霍格沃茨魔法学校的学生。她描述了自己加入NYCC一个快闪族的经历。在这个快闪族里，有75人扮装成《哈利·波特》相关的各个角色，他们聚到一起拍照——为了帮助其中一位成员向女友求婚。

“这是把你的兴趣穿在身上，”她说，“这真是一个缩小差距、寻找共同点的好方法。”endprint