Psychology of tattooing as adaptive and addictive behavior

Abstract

The article considers the body modification phenomenon as not being studied enough in Russian psychological literature.

The Introduction substantiates the relevance of this study and gives a theoretical review of studies by Russian and foreign researchers. According to it getting a tattoo can be described as an adaptive behavior or dependence on the process (addiction). The study is novel in obtaining data and exploring aggressive and autoaggressive behavior patterns while getting tattoos and their relationship with the parent-child relationship of respondents.

The «Methods» section discusses the study inventory and the respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics. Along with applying the questionnaires to identify aggressive and autoaggressive patterns and their predictors in the past and present, we made our questionnaire to conduct the study. According to the study Results, not only the motives for body modification are identified, but the functions that tattoos perform for temporary relief and respondents’ adaptation. The tattoo functions were grouped into five strategies: tattoos as a tool of control, emotions transfer (positive emotional regulation), anchor/masking, self-harm/coping strategy and alexithymia.

In the «Discussion» section, the opinion of scientists is given, which considers not only the various motives for getting tattoos, but the tattoo significance for the respondents’ behaviour, given the importance attached to tattoos in society, and also provides recommendations that suggest the psychologist’s the behaviour strategy when faced with a heavily tattooed client to assist in his psychological problems solving.

In the «Conclusion» section, the results obtained interpretation is given, and common personality traits are identified, including a high need for uniqueness and a low need for conformity. Recommendations are made for the psychologist’s use of communication alternative means through visual images.