Psychology of Tattoos, Body Piercings and Sexual Activity

tattooedcoupleThe psychology of getting a tattoo or body piercing is an interesting one and takes a certain type of person to do it. First of all you need to make the decision to scar your body on a permanent basis. Hopefully you do this because your body is going to look better afterwards but there are several other reasons why you might get one.

Peer pressure can play a factor. Think of the scenario of lads on holiday all getting the same tattoo for the experience. Or even parental pressure, an 8 year old girl is going to find it hard to say ‘sorry mum but I don’t want my ears punctured’.

But for the most part people get tattoos and piercings because they consider the decoration of their body an art. People also often report getting addicted to getting more and more tattoos and piercings because their inspiration keeps on going.

According to The Harris Poll, 2012, a survey performed on 2,016 adult Americans, on average 21% of people have a tattoo and the age bracket most likely to have a tattoo is 30-39. People without tattoos were questioned on their opinions towards them and 50% stated that they thought people with tattoos were more rebellious.

However of the people with tattoos 30% thought themselves to be more sexy with it and 21% said that they feel more attractive and strong.

The most popular body modification in the U.S is ear piercings at 49% but having a body piercing on another part of the body is far less popular at only 7%.

Although tattoos have been growing in popularity and acceptability over the past few years, its going to take longer for them to overtake ear piercing. Also piercing is accepted at a much younger age whereas 84% of people believe that a person should be between the ages of 18 and 21 before they should get a tattoo without parental consent.

Tattoos and Piercings on Women

Women tend to get tattoos and piercings for decoration of their body and are also more likely to get either than a man. This is likely to be related to the evolutionary psychology of the desire of women to decorate themselves to attract a mate. This is reflected in other aspects of the female culture. Having hair styled, putting on make up, cosmetic surgery and ludicrously expensive shoes. Most women will report that they do this to make themselves feel good but if that’s the case then why do men not feel the compulsion to make themselves feel just as good by putting on lipstick in the morning?

Do Tattoos and Piercings Make Women More Attractive?

The answer to this is, sometimes. Probably not the answer you were looking for but allow me to explain. A study performed by Guéguen, 2013 asked several male participants on a beach to rate a woman on how easy they think it would be to have sex with them on the first date. Half of the time the woman had a temporary butterfly tattoo on and the other half of the time they had plain skin. The results were remarkable. The woman was thought to be far easier to approach when she was wearing the tattoo but it didn’t have an effect on how attractive she was rated.

This could be because males are very visual creatures when it comes to sexual attraction and the tattoo or piercing could be seen as a signal of sexual availability. ‘She likes to decorate herself perhaps shes trying to attract someone’ could be the thoughts going on at a primeval level.

Some evidence would seem to back up this perception about women with piercings as well. According to the study performed by Rovardo & Colleen, 2010 women with body piercings were found to be more likely than women without to have premarital intercourse.

Tattoos and Piercings on Men

Tattoos and piercings on men are seen by themselves very differently than how women perceive their tattoos. Men often get tattoos as a mark of camaraderie or because of an event that they want to connect with.

With regards to how they see themselves afterwards, tattooed men view themselves as more attractive than men without tattoos and also report themselves as having more sexual activity Drews et al, 2000.

Do Tattoos and Piercings Make Men More Attractive?

Well again it does depend on your own personal preferences. Often it is more likely that women with tattoos will find men with tattoos more attractive because they have something in common. An instant topic of conversation has massive advantages in starting a dialogue with someone you are attracted to.

Also it has been found that women tend to be put off by large skin covering tattoos but one or two small tattoos have no effect on attractiveness.

On the whole piercings in men are still seen to have a stigma and far less men have piercings than they have tattoos. Often ear piercings can have feminine connotations but body piercings in other parts of the body show a certain rebellious nature encouraging the ‘bad boy’ stereotype.

Do you find Tattoos and piercings attractive? Please let us know in the comments section.

Please share. It really helps us a lot.

About Alexander Burgemeester

68 Responses to “Psychology of Tattoos, Body Piercings and Sexual Activity”

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  1. Miss Thang says:

    Personally I just don’t find tattoos attractive on women. As a woman I just like smooth pretty skin, normal hair colors and minimal makeup. That is just my personal preference and look. To each their own and people with tats and piercings can definitely be intelligent. To me it just appears they are desperate for attention, just like women with long fake lashes and tons of makeup. They are striving to be noticed. Alone on a deserted island you wouldn’t be concerned with phony lashes or tattoos lol.

  2. J R says:

    I see tattoos on women above the naval as being Hideous. And piercings on women’s face, not their ears but their face as being equally as hideous. Why not just jam a bolt through your head and twist on a washer, lock washer and nut? This is yet another reason why I don’t date American women. They’re always spending so much time trying to be Men and the rest of their time trying out new and grotesque ways to bend, fold, spindle and mutilate themselves. That’s just my educated opinion. I don’t care if people like it. Kirk out.

  3. saya says:

    This thread is mildly infuriating, I’m a 17-year-old girl with gauges, nose piercing, and my cartilage done. I have one tattoo and getting another one, I’m taking college classes as well as high school, and a coding class allowing me to graduate a year early. The fact that people think other humans have less intelligence than other people because of some ink they chose to have is stupidity. Many people who have tattoos, piercings, and even dyed hair have graduated with many degrees and are very smart. People are being ignorant and self-centered.

  4. annette says:

    It is personal taste. I personally wouldnt get a tattoo but that is my taste. People can express their taste in however way they like. I like dressing up in nice clothes, My daughter has tattoos and it suits her personality. To each their own. It is your character and how you treat people and the world that matters.

  5. Life obs says:

    You hate your life you hate your body

    Tatts and piercing are self harm by proxy


  6. Sam says:

    In every instance I have had my piercings done at the end of a truly significant emotional pain; they were kind of my awakening moment when I snapped out of the mental haze I was in and felt myself reconnect inside. They came about when I decided that I’d had enough and was moving on to a new stage.

    For me the act of getting the piercings themselves was going through that last push where the emotional pain is replaced by a short sharp stab of physical pain and then there’s something new, What was there before is gone and now there’s something different in it’s place; something physical and tangible that I put there. I had chosen to do it, no-one else had a say in the matter, no-one else got to influence the outcome and in effect it was to reclaim control and direction, to mark one more significant turning point and decision in my life.

    If I am being honest I suppose there is a sense of personal defiance to it; there are so many areas in life where other people get to weigh in on our choices and direct our actions. But my body is for me alone and no-one else gets to have a say in that. Unless I specifically seek an opinion, I’m not interested in hearing what other people have to say on the matter; they’re entitled to judge for themselves and think whatever they like. But their opinion doesn’t overrule my choice.

    For me it’s about exerting control, dominance and authority of the self, regardless of where or when I may acquiesce and compromise in other every day areas of life.

    Beyond that, I like the decorative options I have now that the piercings are there. But it’s not to look seχier or more attractive to others; it’s about seeing more of myself when I look in the mirror. The choice of jewelry that I wear in my ears reflects how I am feeling inside and where I am in my life at the time; sometimes that may be delicate and subtle, sometimes it’s bold and obvious, it may be done up with jewels and glam, or it may be simple and plain, maybe it’s something gold and indulgent, maybe it’s something cheaper and back to basics.

    I can’t speak for everyone. But my piercings are for me, not society around me, a lot of the time I have them concealed from the world. But I know they’re there. Every day of my life they’re with me and not having them in feels like missing a part of myself now.

    I don’t have any tattoos and I am on the fence about them. Some tattoos look very artistic and creative to me, generally I prefer them on men than on women. But that is speaking in general terms, each person and tattoo is individual.

    I tend to find them more appealing if they have been incorporated into some sort of aberration on the skin, like a scar or mark of some kind and the tattoo serves a purpose in and of itself to transform that mark, A common candidate is the use of ink to mask and alter surgery scars, seeing how people design around the site and work it into their design is always interesting.

  7. Jesibut says:

    Wow. You guys are hilarious. It amazes me that you look at people so reprehensibley based upon something that creates no harm. But then again as I have aged I have become really judgemental and prejudiced too. So I’m just going to assume most of you are old f@rts who can’t bely or understand anything outside of your own tiny experiences. But more power to ya. Hope you go to the grave feeling more supreme than others and maybe you will be rewarded for not being “trashy” or “pathetic” or otherwise disturbed. But in my opinion which has just much validity as yours. Your brain patterns are trashy and pathetic. And you guys are as ugly inside as you think others are outside. But hey at least you don’t have permanent reminders of how truly disgusting you are.

    • JDog says:

      ❤️❤️❤️ The older i get the less judgmental I am. I continue to grow away from the influence of other people’s opinions. I’m in my mid 40’s. I have 5 ear piercings i wear. I had under my bottom lip pierced but the backing irritated my teeth. I don’t have any tattoo’s although I’ve always figured i would someday 🤔 maybe soon. My boyfriend has A Lot of visible tattoo’s. He just loves em. They don’t affect how i see him. They can be sexy. They can be almost invisible to me at times. I don’t fell judgy of tattoos on anyone. If i appreciate one I’ll compliment it. Sometimes they look ugly but i don’t judge the person by it,It’s just that i don’t appreciate that piece of art.

  8. No name says:

    I think it’s disgusting to see a young adult woman with tattoos covering her whole arm, more then one nose ring and who knows where else. They are not attractive in the employment sector, unless you work in a tattoo parlor or a circus., if they were so proud of the tattoos why do they cover up in long sleeves when they go anyplace respectful. How are they going to explain to their children when thy ask why did you disfigures yourself on purpose..
    yes some tattoos are respectful and when necessary to cover scars cause by other means

    Most of these people need psychological help if you ask me

  9. Vince says:

    I have no problems with tattoos, but it boggles my mind how some people get tattoos to show their originality. More and more people will keep getting tattoos, and when everyone gets one, then no one will look “original”.

    • Pamela says:

      But everyone gets different tattoos. People shouldn’t just pick any pretty tattoo on the wall. It should mean something to you and be something you’ve put a lot of thought into. You can also get one custom designed. Everyone will look different!

  10. Liz says:

    The fact that everyone commenting has lumped everyone with tattoos and piercings into a few insulting categories like “attracting a mate” or “trying to be cool” or “psychopath” tells me that people who don’t have these things are by far more hateful and judgmental than the ones getting them. Not everyone bases their entire life and everything they do upon what people think about them. Are you going to tell someone who has survived attempted murder that covered their scars with something beautiful that they are a slut? Are you going to tell someone that a memorial tattoo for their loving dead grandmother is just to get laid? Are you going to call a breast cancer survivor who got nipple tattoos after theirs have been cut off that they are psychotic for trying to be normal? I find that tattooing actually brings less psychopaths into the world because when people feel rage they can just go get a tattoo and channel it into that pain instead of truly hurting themselves. People need reminders on how to make themselves happy in a world filled with people like you, who instead of trying to know someone and understand them, just spit out hate and judgement and make the world an even worse place. God forbid we all become liberal or focus on our mental health without any concern for what some old hateful republican thinks.

  11. Liz says:

    This is the most absolute garbage I have ever read and everyone commenting should be ashamed. You’re all a bunch of narcissistic retards who think everything anyone does is to appease the people around them. As a tattoo artist, I have covered up scars from people who have been stabbed and burned and don’t want to look down and be reminded of their past. People who have had their breasts removed from cancer get realistic nipples to not feel like a total freak. People who are suicidal get reminders to be positive so that when they feel like they are going to lose it, they look down and the tattoo they got lifts them back up and reminds them of why they got it and why they want to live. The most common tattoos that I do are memorials for loved ones or fallen veterans. Not everything a woman does should be scrutinized and seen as a way to attract a male. I think it’s disgusting that no matter what we do, we are judged by our attraction level. You mock us for wearing lipstick and hate us for not. F***ing grow up and mind your own business and stop spreading hate to people that you don’t understand simply because you don’t understand them. No one cares if you think someone’s attempt to f***ing stay alive is unattractive or stupid. It was meant for them and they don’t owe any explanation.

    • Gary J Perkins says:

      Seriously tattoos are an attempt to differentiate yourself from others. If you work really hard at not conforming to societal standards and choose to look like an outcast, don’t be upset when society treats you like one.

      The more different you look the less likely “normal” people are to accept you. This can prove to be very disadvantageous
      In you personal and professional life.

      Doesn’t really matter how capable you are or how talented you may be, once people see how you present yourself you will be treated differently.

      Fair? No, but very true.

      So think long and hard about that face tattoo, and if that’s the route you choose be prepared to work low paying menial jobs for the rest of your life.

      • Lia Gold says:

        lmao are you dense? Where did you see the words “face tattoo” at all? Homegirl LITERALLY talked about MEANINGFUL tattoos, that save peoples lives and make them happy, she didn’t even mention trying to stand out.

        That being said, even if somebody does get a tattoo to stand out, who tf cares?? No one here is like “omg I have like 20 tattoos and everybody treats me like a creep bc of it im so sad :(” None of us are complaining about what you think

        In fact, it may come as a surprise to you, but if someone tattoos a giant d***ck on their face they probably could care less about your opinion.

        The people (like you) saying “don’t get offended when we hate you” are the ONLY ones insinuating that ANYONE is offended by others judging those with tattoos. In reality, the real reason we’re offended is that you have the audacity to believe that we give even the smallest f***k about what you think, or that we should give a f***k at all.

        You best believe the fact that anyone thinking it’s “gross” is NOT gonna stop me from getting a huge middle finger printed on my a***s.

        Don’t like it? Then go ahead and take a long hard look at it. Maybe after a while, you’ll figure out whether I care or not 🙂

    • Pamela says:

      I think these men just hate all women no matter what. I think it’s because now women have CHOICES and can turn men down. Not everything, actually NOTHING women do is for men. We have our own lives and our own thoughts and men just can’t handle it. So they have to slυt shame us over every little thing, because we did something that wasn’t for them, and they still aren’t getting laίd.

  12. Mas says:

    Not at all. You ought yo be very comfortable with your own body or under your own skin in order to wear it as it is.

  13. Reality says:

    So here’s the whole argument in a nut shell:
    Everyone I speak to with a tattoo, or tattoos, claims ‘Body Adornment’.
    I’m calling bull. And can easily prove it.
    If it’s REALLY about body adornment, and not desperately trying to fit in, then you would be just as ‘cool’ slapping on wash off temporary tattoos. But try rocking temp tattoos and everyone with sub-dermal tats would berate you as a poser. More to the point the person considering getting a retarded tattoo in the first place is too afraid to ever consider wearing temp tattoos for fear of rejection without even trying it first.
    So if it’s all about Decoration/ Adornment then why aren’t temp tattoo’s all the rage? You could change them up any time you want, take them off for job interviews, refine the designs over time, they would be far, far less cost than a single sub-dermal tat and far safer too. There are all these advantages and more. So common sense tells us that it clearly is not about ‘adornment’.

    This visual pollution / cry to be noticed was summed up in a 2005 German study:
    “Next to being motivated by fashion and the urge to fit in with one’s peers, the major reasons for body modification practices in the German population appear to be negatively perceived conditions of life, reduced social integration, and increased sensation-seeking behavior.”

    • Kara says:

      This is a stupid comment. Some of us just think tattoos look badass. Some of us are artist, some of us are into the alternative look.. there was a long period of time when tattoos were not all the rage and few had them.. Just because you don’t like them doesn’t mean you know what you are talking about. I see a lot of popular tattoos that look like absolute garbage. Some get them to fit in.. but mostly the people covered like myself just love the look.. it’s like women who get their nails done or wear makeup, or get highlights. Regardless at the End of the day, psychology is mans perception on mans behaviors .. yesterday’s society is not today’s society, therefore a behavior in 1926 is not the behavior in 2019.. I find psychology majors to be very shallow and I notice they often come from broken homes where they feel like studying other people can help them fix themselves, as I’ve noticed they usually have a complex and are constantly trying to label a disorder to anything that has a pulse. If you are helping people with real mental disorders.. good for you. But to try to understand something like tattoos and come up with some bullish reason for why people have them? I think you all are just bored.

      • Larr Holmes says:

        No reason to take issue with your personal thoughts. Would offer that as an employer, one’s desire for body art or adornment, can be a negative to getting job. If you are comfortable within a world of similer people and can make a good living, go for it. This is a much smaller percentage of the population Granted some jobs do not get disgracted by body art. I subscribe to you that you will see very few professionals (doctors, attorneys, investment advisors( who are “into” tattoos. Reason is that their tareget audience or prospective clients generally have a negative feeling about a person who chooses to use their body as a palette. Older people for the most part are turned off by overt piercings and visible ink.

        • Loren says:

          Exactly! I am a CPA and there are absolutely no companies out there that are going to hire a tattooed (or body pierced ) accountant. During interviews in the past i have been asked flat out if I have any visible tats or body piercings. Personally I don’t care what ppl do but a lot of employers do. If you are in a professional field forget the body art bc you are not going to get hired

    • Larry Holmes says:

      Excelent recap. Our nephew who has never been successful at anything and we think has low self esteem, is all in to tatoos. He’s approaching 40, not married and has difficulty sustaining a relationship.

      • Connor says:

        That might have more to do with his family’s opinion of him and probably other personal issues than him having tattoos. I’m 22, not married, and have difficulty sustaining a relationship, and it has nothing to do with my tattoos and piercings. It has everything to do with having depression, anxiety, PTSD, being sexually assaulted when I was 15, being neglected by my biological parents before I was 2 years old, and being abused by my adoptive parents. I got my tattoos and piercings years after all that, and if anything, they have HELPED me. Maybe try talking to him and seeing if something else is going on rather than blaming it on his decision to get tattoos.

    • Pamela says:

      I’m about to get my first tattoo. I actually wear temporary tattoos all the time. They are kind of silly though because most are made for kids, and they don’t look good when they are half falling off. But I’ll get henna tattoos at the beach and character tattoos occasionally. But I really want a few real ones. I’ve put years of thought into what I want and I’m working with an artist on a custom design. It’s really important to me to decorate my body with something meaningful.

  14. NB says:

    No, I find piercings (other than on ears) and tattoos to be repulsive.

    • Dennis Gleason says:

      I’m with you. I find women who get tattoos to be easy, slow witted, addictive to anything and liberal. Men on the other hand are trying to rebel and actually think a tattoo is going to get women into bed. They’re right if where are talking about the women I referenced above.

      • Kara says:

        Is liberal having an opinion other than agreeing with your statement? We are not all easy, that’s like saying your mom was easy because she had blonde hair. How can you all discuss stereotypes and mix it with psychology. Another dr.douchesopinion.

        • Vince says:

          You just made a terrible argument with the blonde hair claim. That’s something you can’t chose, but getting a tattoo is a decision of yours. I’m not judging everyone who has tattoos and lumping them into the same category, but many with larger or more tattoos have impulsive and neurotic behaviors that could lead them to take make these decisions.

  15. David says:

    I’m a male with most of my body tattooed. I see the gym 4-5x a week. Ears pierced (3 piercing) and nipples pierced. I love the look of tattoos and piercings……

  16. Olivia Johnson says:

    just by going through the comments, i would conclude that tattoos and body piercing shows that the victim is insecure.

  17. Robin says:

    Personally, I have enjoyed art
    Seeing more than clothes on a body seems interesting. Thinking back getting a tattoo was a jump, I was warned at my second job to never get one, they blur with time- inks may be better now adays than years past. I did not question the tattoo artist enough, I think he was having a bad day in my memory.
    I had looked forward to getting skin art for years, had looked at tattoo magizine looked at books, and even tryed to drawl one out for my ex boyfriend fiancé ex husband that can be covered w his short sleeve shirt.

    If I add to mine I will surely think about it – and hopefully find an skin tattoo artist that doesn’t seem mad but in tune with what is getting done. It is almost a permanent item on your body – my 2-3 tattoos have personal meaning and can be covered easily. Thank you second tattoo artist wear ever you may be working or chilling out now adays.

  18. CoonAlex says:


    So Basically, What most women report is not valid because men don’t showcase the same behaviour. For a Neuro Psychologist, that is surely not the most brilliant piece.

    Same type of people who think that because women dress a certain way they are “asking for it”


    • Vannh says:

      As if everything women do is for men.

      More women get up and wear lipstick than men because that’s how we’re conditioned from birth.

      You’d think someone writing an article about “psychology” would get that.

    • Glenda says:

      Women in a relationship, especially a long term relationship, are far less likely to get new tattoos and piercings. They are also less likely to dress in a promiscuous fashion. Women may claim their actions have nothing to do with their sexuality, but that just betrays an extreme lack of self awareness.

    • Gary J Perkins says:

      I truly appreciate art, but I find nothing artistic about any tattoos I’ve ever seen. All tattoos basically look like something copied out of a spiderman comic book, or worse.

      So if you’re OK with comic book “art”, indulge….

    • Pamela says:

      This is dumb. Obviously lipstick is for women. (Actually some young men are starting to wear makeup too to in order to cover their blemishes. )

      For a more fair comparison, how about men get up and shave every day or trim their beards. If you are so confident and don’t do anything to make you feel good, let that sh*t grow wild.

      Tattoos are for both, but I think there are feminine and masculine tattoo designs.

  19. Jake says:

    Aren’t people with tattoos more likely to psychopaths?

  20. Liam Hughes says:

    I think healthy skin is a blessing..people born with blemishes on their skin look to have them corrected. In my opinion it shows a disregard for their skin. The term ” tattoos are fashionable” is confusing as fashions change all the time but tattoo’s are permanent. We change the decor in our houses..change pictures and paint colours every now and then because it would drive us mad to live with the same thing forever. We change our hairstyles all the time but who could live with the same haircut forever?? What we need is someone to invent a tattoo ink that dissapears after several years. Giving you an option that does not exist currently. Tattooing is prominent in prisons……why is this I ask.?

  21. John says:

    I find tattoos and body piercings very unattractive and a sign of insecurity on both men and women. Essentially an outward statement of “I’m not interesting or attractive enough as I was born”. I would be interested in a study of the relationship of excessive body piercing or tattoos to diagnosed psychological issues or even relationship to the probability of STDs, abortions, multiple partners, drug use and other reckless behavior. I have never and would never date a woman who has a fetish for tattoos or piercings.. A womans body is the most beautiful thing in the world ‘As-is”.

    There’s a social sense that tattoos and piercings are “cool” in todays youth and I beleive a lot of normal people get one or two tattoos or piercings that they often later regret in order to rebel a bit.

  22. Andrew says:

    I am 38 this year and a Male looking for a Female partner. I almost totally hate tattoos but not quite. I am looking for a partner with no tattoos showing when they are formally dressed. I’ve always thought women getting tattoos was trying to assert ownership of their body following a bad relationship. I hated belly button rings, nose piercings, and tattoos but always liked pierced ears. So nowadays I quite like belly button rings, a stud earring in one nostril, and 1 set, possibly 2 piercings in each ear, but no punk jewellery. … I don’t see tattoos as art and when I see a beautiful woman with skulls and a grim reaper tatooed across the breasts for example, it makes me cringe, and I think they are unstable/have lost their beauty, and in general if they have tattoos are too masculine.
    ….However, oddly enough, in recent years I have come to find attractive a Chinese symbol or some sort of symbol that has deep positive meaning for the Woman, tattooed on the back of her neck, out of sight under her hair, or a small tattoo on her lower back.
    ….Seems to me that everyone was getting tattoos to be an individual, and by not getting one had made me an individual, since they are so common. Also more concerning is that since so many people have tattoos they are now turning to other forms of body mutilation in a bid to be an individual. Tattoos already look bad and when they are old and wrinkled they will look herendous. That’s my opinion anyway.

  23. Andy says:

    I have most of my body tattooed, 95%. I have a worked out body, in the gym most days. I also have many ear piercings & my nipples. I think they are hot on both sexes.

  24. Rosy says:

    As a tattooed mom of 3.
    With a career, and a head on my shoulders, shame all you who commented calling people with tattoos all sorts of names, I guess your parents never taught to you not to ever judge a book by its cover .

    I find tattoos attractive (depending on the artwork of course)

    • Charles says:

      I find almost all tattoos to be ugly and the more the uglier. Now by that I am not making a judgment on the person who has them. I am making a judgment on what I think tattoos look like. I think I am allowed to have my own taste on what looks good and what doesn’t.

    • Penny says:

      I find it atractive .looking gor a man like you.

    • Buddy says:

      Hey Rosy,

      Please come back here in 10-15 yrs and post and update and let us know how “Beautiful” your Tattoos, I mean, your body art looks on your aging skin.

      Just saying

  25. dj says:

    Oh my. These (assuming) young and (assuming) creative and intelligent people seem eager to pre-judge.

    At 64, educated and professional, I have body art which is not easily seen by the public. I use it to relive special moments in life. I do not need the approval of others nor do I look to shock

  26. David says:

    I find ppl putting on tattoos and multiple piercing to come from a disorganized poor family. I believe they are more likely to use drugs or smoke something and likely high risk for stds. Most std ppl I know have one piercing or another. They are likely to be single parents and very unproductive to the society. They are likely not end up in Harvard or any premier School . Their children are likely to be drop outs and have teen pregnancy or use early drugs. They are likely from a ghetto and poor society

    • Donnie says:

      You sound like a moron. I went to private school my entire life, grew up in a loving household in the suburbs of Chicago, have an advanced graduate degree, work for a proprietary futures trading firm, married with kids, have a house and cars and have dozens of visible tattoos. You have a poor perception on reality.

    • gals says:

      Nope, try again. I have two large tattoos (a half sleeve on the upper arm, another on my thigh). I don’t do drugs. I don’t smoke. Don’t have any STDs and never have. I came from a 2-parent household with no experience in child abuse. I graduated with my bachelor’s debt-free (due to my ability to get merit-based scholarships from STEM research programs). I’m now getting my master’s in cell/molecular biology at an R1 research university. I’m not from the ghetto (middle class immigrant parents, actually). Take your assumptions and re-evaluate them. You sound ridiculous.

    • Connor says:

      Wrong. So, so wrong. I was neglected by my biological parents before I was two, so I grew up with adoptive parents who were very wealthy. Neither of them smoked or did drugs, and they very rarely drank. They were verbally and emotionally abusive and sometimes physically abusive. When I was 15, I was sexually assaulted on multiple occasions by two separate men in our community. One of them did not use condoms, and that is the most likely cause of me getting an STD, unless my ex was unfaithful to me. I am currently going to school to be a phlebotomist, and plan to continue my education to be an accountant after that. I have only ever drank alcohol on very rare occasions and have only ever smoked weed to help with chronic pain from health issues. I have never tried any other drugs. I have never lived in “ghetto” or “poor society”. I have multiple facial piercings, and one tattoo that has a lot of meaning to me.

    • Christine says:

      This thread is incredible. Human capacity for ignorance and arrogance never fails to shock me. I have 3 graduate degrees and a post-bacc certificate from a prestigious and expensive Catholic university, and multiple professional certifications.. I maintained a 3.9 average through all my programs while working full time, carrying/delivering/caring for 3 beautiful and well-adjusted children, and being the glue that held a marriage together for more than 16 years now. I am middle-aged, have 9 tattoos and a variety of body piercings. I am an 11 year veteran of the US Marine Corps with an honorable discharge, and didn’t have my first child until I was 29 after my service was complete. Oh and btw, in addition to be Masters prepared in Business Analytics, I am a Registered Nurse and have an undergrad in Psychology. So coming from someone who actually knows what they are talking about to the random moron spouting off assumptions about the origin and prevalence of socioeconomic issues they are clueless about- f#ck off. It’s people like you whose tiny tiny worlds are destroyed when their idea of the perfect role model- senior leadership professional white male who lives in suits- is spotted at the gym with a huge tribal piece on his chest. Grow up.

  27. Andy says:

    I don’t have any tats or pierces but I strongly disagree with commentators below. People with high quality tattoos look waaaaaaay more attractive than they would look with exactly the same appearance but without them.

    The only thing that does spoil your appearance rather than improve it are small tattoos here and there. They look like imperfections, somewhat similar to acne or I don’t even know what. Large tattoos that cover a lot of skin integrally, on the other hand, are really attractive. The photo at this article’s beginning may be a good example, actually.

    Also I personally dislike piercing including that on ears as I find unnatural holes in a body disturbing. However, I admit that it’s nothing more than my personal taste.

    Now speaking of personality differences, I recognize that the MOST intelligent people I met in my life don’t have any tattoos — and I’m speaking academic professor in prestigious university level intelligent people.
    Shall I, however, think about people any tiniest bit less smart than that, any correlation between intelligence and having or not having tattoos immediately disappears.

    Now I’m OK with people that don’t have any tattoos, heck I’m one of them temporarily. But the ones who are talking sh*t about those who do have tats, like the ones below me — I think they are just too scared of everything. And it drives them insane is that someone isn’t as scared as they are — and his or her tattoo is a proof of that. And that’s what feeds their anger.

    P.S.: Yes, the most intelligent people I met didn’t have tattoos, but the same is true about most miserable and dishonest as well as most petty and middlebrow people I met.

  28. Jeffrey Martin says:

    It just bogles the mind that women get tattoos all over their bodies and they think it’s sexy ! NOT !!!
    The only thing as pathetic is afros getting
    tattoos , since you can barely see them ! This world is screwed up with their logic of their appearances !
    Oh well , my views are not sexist or racist and hopefully will be viewed as helpful ! I just wonder when common sense will be popular again ?

    • Raiya says:

      Afros are natural? No one can help that. It’s much better than having fried hair and patches. Secondly, coming from someone who has piercings, I am highly intelligent, graduated top of my class in highschool and I’m still at the top in college. Why are you so upset with people who are not afraid to do what they want with their bodies? Why does it bother you? I guess you think that the police officers, doctors, lawyers, and other are idiotic? If so, then you’re a lost cause dear.

  29. Cat Woodul says:

    my opinion is that people with tattoos are pathetically insecure, not very intelligent, promiscuous and generally trashy. Women look sl*tty and men look slimy, maybe even criminal. I will never understand mutilating one’s own body. And, by the way, it isn’t art either.

    One thing I looked for in a husband is ‘NO tattoos’. I found him. He is intelligrnt and handsome too!

    • chloe toland says:

      I have 20 tattoos and 19 peircings, I am 18, almost 19 years old, I studied art and Sociology at 6 form and I am now studying Technical Theatre specialising in sound design and Stage Management.
      If you beilieve that I am not smart enough please explain why I have won awards for my campaigning in Mental Health, why was I elected to be on the UK youth Parliament, and took part as a member for over 5 years… feel free to look me up Chloe Toland.
      I feel that tattoo’s and peircings, make someone much more individual and so much more creative.

      • Bryan Strydom says:

        So you can’t be Individual or creative WITHOUT A TATOO ??

      • Glenda says:

        Tattoos are a sign of emotional instability. The fact that you seek out creative endeavors and are interested in mental health betray a tragic background. My guess is you weren’t raised in a traditional two parent family.

        • Connor says:

          I was raised in a “traditional two parent family”. I have tattoos, piercings, seek out creative endeavours and am interested in mental health. My tattoos are a sign of my emotional growth. They were a reward and a reminder. I got them for myself. I did not get them for anyone else or to spite anyone else or for attention or any of the other BS reasons people give for others getting tattoos and piercings.

          • Brampton Hammond says:

            I’m just curious to find out what you have done in your vast amount of time on Earth (18-19 years) that you feel needs 39 body modification “rewards”?

    • Jacob Anthony Medina says:

      Thats the thing though… you dont need to understand others. Just accept people for who they are. I graduated top 10 percent of my class and have tattoos and piercings. I’m accepted among a group of colleagues whom you’d never see with the likes of myself, dont you ever go judging someone because of what they like. Only God can judge me and he has blessed me with the intelligence I need to further my career in biochemical engineering.

      • Gary J Perkins says:

        You pretend to be in intelligent, and you almost had me, until you mentioned “Gawd”. That’s when I knew you were full of s**t.

  30. keith says:

    piercings are subhuman

  31. Tamars says:

    No. I find body piercings and tattoos disturbing and I can not understand why anyone would not feel attractive enough already without messing up their gorgeous as is bodies, but then, I’m an artist and see paintings and sculptures as artistic self expression, never mutilating the human body with graffitti, most of which I find disturbing and hideous.

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