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Advancement of the Tattoo Industry: The Psychology and Perceptions Behind Tattooing Today

The history of tattooing.

Tattoos are a form of body modification, involving the insertion of ink from a needle into the skin which produces a temporary or permanent design (Rahimi et al., 2018). Tattooing has been a known practice for centuries and is popular among many different cultures.  However, over time, the connotations associated with tattoos have evolved dramatically, resulting in mixed opinions and an extensive amount of stigma around the topic (Roggenkamp et al., 2017a). Despite this, tattooing is becoming increasingly popular in the 21st century and is considered to be one of the most notable trends in Europe. Ruffle & Wilson (2019), reported that 40% of Americans aged from 26-40 do have at least one tattoo. 

Why do people get tattoos?

Motivations for getting a tattoo differ in every individual and are personal experiences. Some people may get meaningful, symbolic tattoos which represent something special to them such as a belief or certain people in their lives. Conversely, others may have personal interests or have some inspiration from online images of tattoos that they generally like, but don't symbolise a particular thing. Nevertheless, most people expect their new tattoo to enhance the way they look to themselves and others and change their identity (Roggenkamp et al., 2017b). Swami (2011) conducted a study investigating changes in body perception before and after acquiring a tattoo. Topics such as confidence, self-esteem and social physique anxiety were involved. The results show that both men and women had higher levels of self-esteem and body satisfaction post getting their tattoo and had remarkably lower levels of negative thoughts suggesting that there are some positive impacts of tattooing.  Members of certain cultural groups often get similar tattoos in similar places as it represents something they believe in or are passionate about. For example, Maori tattooing, also known as moko, originates from New Zealand and is considered to symbolise power and ancestry. Maori tattoos are most commonly seen on the head and face (Young, 2018). Tan (2013) highlights the rise in popularity of Maori tattoos in recent years, with further discussion of how well-known celebrities such as Robbie Williams have one. 

Despite being a cultural taboo in the past and often associated with certain social groups such as criminals, tattooing is more acceptable now due to the media. Over recent years, the use of social media has dramatically increased, resulting in more people acknowledging the tattooing industry. Famous celebrities uploading pictures of their tattoos on platforms such as Instagram, increases the likelihood of the viewers wanting or getting a similar tattoo due to it being widely accessible to millions of people and becoming well-known. Social media also allows tattooists to obtain new, modern ideas, resulting in the enhancement of their work and the possibility of previous clients returning and gaining new clients (Ryan Force, 2020).

So, why do some people not get tattoos?

Reasons for not wanting to be tattooed can vary, from personal preference, public views and health restrictions. Depending on profession, some people may avoid tattoos due to them being forbidden in the workplace and always having to be covered up with certain clothes due to them being considered unprofessional. Although this does still occur in some jobs today and is seen as a type of exclusion and discrimination, other professions have relaxed the rule and now allow tattoos to be visible given they are appropriate and don't show explicit designs (Rosario & Wollen, 2022).

Tattoo regret is significant in the 21st century and is continuing to increase. A study conducted by Altunay et al (2022) found that from 302 participants, 80 of them reported that they do regret at least one of their tattoos and within the 80, 34 of them admitted that they had one of their tattoos removed or covered with something else due to not liking their tattoo anymore. The results suggest that maybe not everyone has meaningful, sentimental motivations for getting a tattoo resulting in being dissatisfied overtime due to the tattoo originally being a spontaneous decision.

What does having a tattoo signal to others?

The way in which a tattoo is viewed by the wearer and a stranger can vary. With tattooing being a controversial subject, tattoos can be judged positively or negatively. Roggenkamp et al (2017c) explains that individuals with tattoos often possess bad traits such as being violent, aggressive, being in prison or being involved with drug and alcohol misuse, although this was a more common stereotype before the 21st century. Also highlighted, is that some people believe that tattoos are more acceptable and appropriate in men and that women who have visible tattoos have the possibility of being viewed as sexually available and perceived more attractive to men.  Individuals who have tattoos, but aren't known to the public due to not being visible or covered up will be perceived as people who don’t have tattoos. This tests how tattooed and non-tattooed individuals are viewed as people and may provide opposing opinions for each group which contradict common beliefs. Zidenberg et al (2021) found that a psychologist with tattoos was not perceived as a bad person or less professional and in fact, was described as more likeable, interesting and confident than the psychologist with no tattoos. This suggests that people are sometimes judged solely on their appearance, but indicates that it shouldn't determine what kind of person someone is. 

Gender differences?

Past beliefs of tattoos being more socially acceptable for men, consequently resulted in a lot more males having tattoos than women. Heywood et al (2012) explains how this may still be the case with more men reporting having a tattoo, but an interesting fact from the study showed that younger women had the highest rates of tattooing (29.4%). Koch et al (2015) findings then highlight that women are more likely to get a tattoo than men, but are also more likely to undergo a removal. Both studies suggest that over the years tattooing is becoming increasingly popular among females, therefore possibly becoming more socially acceptable due to the media and diminishing any gender disparity. 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/175570085456088355/

Misconceptions around tattoos.

There are many misconceptions and myths around tattoos which can impact how non-tattooed people view the tattooed and why they decide not to get one. It is believed that getting a tattoo can increase the chance of getting skin cancer due to the pigments and chemicals present in the ink. However, Kluger & Koljonen (2012) report that there is no increase in cancers in the tattooed suggesting that there is no known, definite correlation between tattoos and skin cancers. 

So, have you or are you thinking about getting a tattoo? While there are a few things to consider beforehand, the tattoo industry is evolving every day and producing some amazing work. So... if you're sure, go for it and SHOW IT OFF!

The following studies will provide you with further information on the topics discussed in this article, go ahead and check them out!

Altunay, İ. K., Güngör, İ. E., Ozkur, E., Aydın, C., Manav, V., Ozden, H. K., Ertekin, S. S., Calikoglu, E. E., Erdoğan, H. K., Taskin, B., Ficicioglu, S., Memet, B., Gürok, N. G., & Ermertcan, A. T. (2022). Tattoos: Demographics, Motivations, and Regret in Dermatology Patients. Indian Journal of Dermatology, 67(6), 834. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijd.ijd_879_22

Heywood, W., Patrick, K., Smith, A. M. A., Simpson, J. M., Pitts, M. K., Richters, J., & Shelley, J. M. (2012). Who Gets Tattoos? Demographic and Behavioral Correlates of Ever Being Tattooed in a Representative Sample of Men and Women. Annals of Epidemiology, 22(1), 51–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.10.005

Kluger, N., & Koljonen, V. (2012). Tattoos, inks, and cancer. The Lancet Oncology, 13(4), e161–e168. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70340-0

Koch, J. R., Roberts, A. E., Armstrong, M. L., & Owen, D. C. (2015). Tattoos, gender, and well-being among American college students. The Social Science Journal, 52(4), 536–541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2015.08.001

Rahimi, I. A., Eberhard, I., & Kasten, E. (2018). TATTOOS: What Do People Really Know About the Medical Risks of Body Ink? PubMed, 11(3), 30–35.

Roggenkamp, H., Nicholls, A., & Pierre, J. M. (2017). Tattoos as a window to the psyche: How talking about skin art can inform psychiatric practice. World Journal of Psychiatry, 7(3), 148–158. https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v7.i3.148

Rosario, N., & Wollen, J. (2022). Tatted not tattered. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 62(5), 1538–1541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2022.06.012

Ruffle, B. J., & Wilson, A. E. (2019). Tat will tell: Tattoos and time preferences. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 166, 566–585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2019.08.001

Ryan Force, W. (2020). “Tattooing in the Age of Instagram.” Deviant Behavior, 43(4), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2020.1801176

Swami, V. (2011). Marked for life? A prospective study of tattoos on appearance anxiety and dissatisfaction, perceptions of uniqueness, and self-esteem. Body Image, 8(3), 237–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2011.04.005

Tan, L. (2013). Intellectual Property Law and the Globalization of Indigenous Cultural Expressions: Māori Tattoo and the Whitmill versus Warner Bros. Case. Theory, Culture & Society, 30(3), 61–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/0263276412474328

Young, M. (2018). Tā Moko and the Cultural Politics of Appropriation. Sites: A Journal of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.11157/sites-id413

Zidenberg, A. M., Dutrisac, S., & Olver, M. (2021). “No ragrets”: Public perceptions of tattooed mental health professionals.. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000441