Event Title
Tattoos as a Behavioral Addiction
Faculty Sponsor
Tanya L. Tompkins
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Date
5-17-2013 3:00 PM
End Date
5-17-2013 4:30 PM
Subject Area
Psychology
Description
Humans have adorned their bodies with tattoos for at least 5300 years (Pabst, et al., 2009), serving as means of spiritual and religious expression, and even punishment. In modern society, tattoos have gained mainstream status; however, tattoos still come with a risk of infection and disease and are associated with high-risk behaviors (Roberts, Auinger, & Ryan, 2004). Colloquially, tattoos are referred to as “addictive.” Yet with a burgeoning number of recent studies investigating behavioral addictions, no studies have examined whether there is data to support the notion that tattoos are addictive. In America, there is a growing subculture of the tattoo lifestyle. In 2006, 24% of adults in the United States were tattooed, which is approximately 7.5 million people (Laumann & Derick, 2006). Given this large population and the potential risks associated with tattoos, the addictive properties of tattooing should be explored. Potential sufferers risk a variety of potential negative consequences including: heightened risk for infection and disease, withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, and spending a large sum of money. The Tattoo Addiction Scale will attempt to identify these individuals and examine when getting a tattoo turns into a behavioral addiction.
Recommended Citation
Murray, Allyna M. and Tompkins, Tanya L., "Tattoos as a Behavioral Addiction" (2013). Science and Social Sciences. Event. Submission 26.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/studsymp_sci/2013/all/26
Tattoos as a Behavioral Addiction
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Humans have adorned their bodies with tattoos for at least 5300 years (Pabst, et al., 2009), serving as means of spiritual and religious expression, and even punishment. In modern society, tattoos have gained mainstream status; however, tattoos still come with a risk of infection and disease and are associated with high-risk behaviors (Roberts, Auinger, & Ryan, 2004). Colloquially, tattoos are referred to as “addictive.” Yet with a burgeoning number of recent studies investigating behavioral addictions, no studies have examined whether there is data to support the notion that tattoos are addictive. In America, there is a growing subculture of the tattoo lifestyle. In 2006, 24% of adults in the United States were tattooed, which is approximately 7.5 million people (Laumann & Derick, 2006). Given this large population and the potential risks associated with tattoos, the addictive properties of tattooing should be explored. Potential sufferers risk a variety of potential negative consequences including: heightened risk for infection and disease, withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, and spending a large sum of money. The Tattoo Addiction Scale will attempt to identify these individuals and examine when getting a tattoo turns into a behavioral addiction.