title: Personality differences between tattooed and non-tattooed individuals.
abstract: This study examined differences between tattooed and non-tattooed individuals on a range of personality and individual difference measures. A community sample of 540 individuals from the southern German-speaking area of central Europe completed a survey consisting of measures of the Big Five personality factors, Need for Uniqueness, Self-esteem, sensation seeking, Religious and Spiritual Beliefs, Attitudes Toward Tattoos, tattoo possession, and demographics. Preliminary analyses showed that 22% of the total sample possessed at least one tattoo. Further analyses showed that, compared with non-tattooed (n = 420) individuals, tattooed participants (n = 120) had significantly higher scores on Extraversion, Experience Seeking, Need for Uniqueness, and held more positive Attitudes Toward Tattoos, although effect sizes of these group differences were generally small- to medium-sized. These results are considered in relation to the contemporary prevalence of tattoos in socioeconomically developed societies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors.forename: Viren
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Swami
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pietschnig
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bertl
authors.forename: Ingo W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Nader
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stieger
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voracek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001317:Austria; D002605:Character; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D029181:Spirituality; D013653:Tattooing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult