Studies about Tattoos: What are the Findings?

There’s an undeniable intrigue to using the body as a canvas, with beautifully curved lines accenting the natural human form; it’s easy to see why so many people are fascinated with tattoos and tattoo culture. With a rich history and so many possible meanings, the world of tattoos and the passion behind body art have plenty of depth for study. It’s no surprise that studies have been done attempting to determine which individuals are more likely to get tattoos; and whether they share any characteristics, or defining traits. Studies about tattoos, exploring the characteristics of those who get inked, provide an interesting look into how a culture defines a personality – or vice versa.

Let’s examine two notable studies on tattoos and personalities.

Studies and Findings on Tattoo Culture

The image of a tattoo enthusiast has changed over the years, spanning stereotypes of gang members, jailbirds, rebellious teenagers, and more. Today, the image of a tattoo enthusiast includes everyone from celebrities, to stay-at-home moms, to professional athletes. Aside from lingering public perceptions (tattoos are still controversial in particular professions, due to older generations’ disapproval), tattoos are becoming so widespread that it may seem impossible to find any concrete similarities across tattooed individuals.

That’s exactly what researchers looked for in a 2012 research study titled “Personality differences between tattooed and non-tattooed individuals.” Three academics surveyed 540 people to see if they could find any predominant similarities or differences between (and within) the two camps. Participants were surveyed in areas such as self-esteem, religious and spiritual beliefs, and general demographics. Although the differences in the findings were small by their account, there were still some interesting results.

The majority of the 120 tattooed individuals in the study could be classified as extroverts; and in the area of “sensation seeking,” tattooed people scored higher than non-tattooed people. This finding may link to the notion that people predisposed to getting tattoos are adrenaline junkies. One hypothesis may be that the pain of the tattoo needle feeds a shot of adrenaline to the system and that for some, getting tattooed is a less dangerous form of seeking the thrills they thrive on.

The researchers presented an idea they refer to as the “Need for Uniqueness.” They determined that tattooed individuals use their body art as a means of self-expression – and to set themselves apart from the masses – positing that people get tattoos in order to mark themselves as unique.

A 2015 study by one of the same authors – Professor Viren Swami of Anglia Ruskin University – took a look at 378 adults, 97 of which had tattoos. Professor Swami’s research dives into the contrast between what he refers to as “proactive rebelliousness” and “reactive rebelliousness.”

The Daily Mail defines proactive rebelliousness as describing a person who resists being told what to do and feels a strong urge to act against orders; while reactive rebelliousness describes someone likely to react to negative events in a reckless or defiant way. Swami’s study found that higher levels of reactive rebelliousness correlate with having more tattoos – the author suggested that these people may respond to upsetting emotional events “by pursuing an act that is seen as defiant.” According to Swami, the reason we don’t see as many people with proactive rebelliousness getting inked up may be that this personality trait is “hedonistic and goal-driven,” and not in line with the spontaneity or pain of tattoos.

Are the Results Accurate?

Sociological studies tend to be a bit more flexible than strict scientific studies, given that the data is less concrete and harder to collect – the authors of the 2012 personality study admit that the “mostly small differences between tattooed and non-tattooed individuals may well be negligible.” Areas such as self-esteem and religious beliefs showed no difference between tattooed and non-tattooed participants. These findings may be considered negated in the later 2015 study, with its focus on extroverts, a personality type that’s commonly understood to have high self-esteem. Based on more recent research, the 2012 study’s findings are already becoming obsolete, as tattoos move further into the mainstream.

The newer study from 2015 isn’t immune to potential inaccuracy, either – the Daily Mail points one drawback, in that it failed to look at the particular designs of the tattoos, and measure potential meanings into the equation. A new mother may choose to get her baby’s birth date tattooed somewhere discreet as a tribute, and that should be considered differently than a gang member getting a racist insignia. The study doesn’t account for such differences.

The 2015 study concluded that “people with tattoos seem no more likely to react with physical aggression than anyone else” – but mentions that measures of aggression were self-reported, and personal perspective could, therefore, skew the results. It’s difficult to encompass all of the human intricacies in a sociological study, so we should be cautious of taking any of these results as truth. These studies can only comment on connections found through their particular survey results; we need much more information and in-depth analysis if we are to assess that tattooed community as a whole.

Individuality Above All

Modern tattoo enthusiasts have long been seen as thrill-seekers with a “carpe diem” mentality – after all, they don’t hesitate to get images inked under their skin for the rest of their lives. Although the two studies detailed above found interesting correlations between tattooed individuals and their “Need for Uniqueness,” there are still so many variables from one tattooed person to another. People from all walks of life get tattoos these days, and you don’t have to be a particularly reactive, impulsive, or extroverted person to do so – but if you are, it seems that you fall in the majority.

Are you an extrovert with tattoos? Do you believe they help with your self-expression? Tell us about it in the comments.