In many countries, tattoos have moved from subculture to the mainstream.
Studies suggest that more than half of young adults today have at least one tattoo. As a result, tattoos have also become a topic of psychological research.
In the past, tattoos were often associated with deviant behavior or mental health problems.
More recent research, however, suggests that body art can largely be an expression of identity, culture, and personal style.
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A study published in Scientific Reports, cited by News Medical, examines whether tattoos can also reveal something about people’s personalities.
A study in Cyprus
The study included 280 adults from Cyprus aged 18 to 64. Participants were recruited from universities and public places such as cafés.
All participants completed a questionnaire commonly used in psychological research to measure various personality traits.
The questionnaire assesses, among other things, impulsivity, emotional responses, and social relationships.
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At the same time, participants recorded their tattoos on a detailed body map containing 1,099 sections.
This allowed researchers to calculate how much of the body’s surface was covered by tattoos.
A difference in the pattern
Of the 280 participants, 164 had at least one tattoo, while 116 had none.
The researchers then compared the participants’ personality questionnaires with the information about their tattoos.
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The results first showed that people with tattoos had slightly higher average levels of impulsivity than those without tattoos.
However, the clearest relationship appeared elsewhere in the analysis.
It was not the number of tattoos, but how much of the body was tattooed that showed the strongest connection to certain personality traits.
People with a larger tattooed body surface more often showed higher levels of impulsivity and antagonism, a personality trait that can be associated with hostility and conflict.
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At the same time, the researchers emphasize that the relationship explains only a small part of the differences between individuals.
Sources: News Medical, and Scientific Reports.
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