5 Things Tattoos Can Reveal About Someone

It has been said that a tattoo is like a book, which can be read, analyzed, and interpreted for deeper meaning. These images on skin speak to the integration of body and mind, because they represent a narrative—an individual’s personal and unique story.

But can tattoos reveal who a person is? This was the principal question of a study conducted by researchers Francois Naude and Luzelle Naude. To explore this inquiry, the investigators recruited 10 participants, ranging in age from 20 to 27, who had between one and nine tattoos. Seven participants were female, and three were male.

The participants completed reflective writing exercises and were interviewed. They were asked questions such as, “Do you feel that tattoos are part of your identity?” “Please tell me the story behind your tattoos,” and “Did you consider the original meaning of a design or create your own?" From there, the investigators analyzed their narratives for themes.

What did the researchers find? The analysis yielded five overarching themes, which are summarized below.

1. Identity: Exploring and expressing my unique self. Most of the participants felt that their tattoo represented their identity, and was extremely personal. One participant remarked: “I feel like my tattoo in some way expresses what I’ve been through, expresses my life... I can see how these words define me.”
2. Affiliation: Belonging to a family. All participants referred to family in their narratives. They exalted their family of origin and the profound influence their family members had on their life stories. At the same time, tattoos symbolized belonging and connection to broader families in society. For example, two participants with semicolon tattoos felt that it bonded them to a community of individuals who struggle with mental health challenges, including depression and suicidal ideation. A participant, Ally, remarked: “I want to stand in solidarity with people who still struggles [sic] with suicidal thoughts and who [are] struggling with depression.”
3. Reminiscence: Remembering events that molded the narrative. Tattoos also spoke to important chapters or events in the participants’ lives, which they felt impacted their growth and development. Consider Ally again, whose tattoos include a crucifix on her ribs and a semicolon on her wrist. She felt that these images captured difficult periods in her life, including wrestling with both depression and her faith. Through processing these dark chapters, she recognized that her life could have ended early and abruptly: “[E]very time I look at my tattoo, I am truly reminded that I am the author, and my story is not over yet.”
4. Perseverance: Surviving the difficult times. Participants’ tattoos also represented life-changing events. Some found that getting a tattoo helped with healing and bringing difficult chapters to a close. This was Reese’s experience. He used his dog for inspiration for his tattoo, noting that his dog was loyal, perseverant, and resilient—qualities he saw in himself having survived difficult times: “... has a connection to, to my... teenage years because I feel like... despite what people thought was gonna happen, I kinda like turned out okay.”
5. Opposing viewpoints: Bridging the generational gap. Tattoos are becoming increasingly widespread and accepted, especially among younger generations. Yet for older generations, the stigma has yet to fade. Participants noted that things are changing, however, and certain fields are becoming more open to tattoos. Take Kai, for example, who has a tattoo on his upper arm of a dragon holding a yin-yang symbol. His tattoo reminds him both of his resolve in the face of those who called him a “nerd” as a kid as well as his desire for balance. He shared: “[I]n the bio, biology and sciences... people don’t look as much at the physical as they look at the CVs.”

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