The study of personality in relation to alexithymia among tattooed individuals and non-tattooed individuals

Abstract

In contemporary society, tattoos have evolved from being viewed as countercultural symbols to expressions of identity, art, and self-narration. Yet, the psychological profiles of tattooed individuals often remain stigmatized or misunderstood. Two constructs particularly relevant to this context are personality traits the enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving and alexithymia, the difficulty in identifying and describing emotions. Research suggests that body modifications such as tattoos may reflect deeper emotional and personality-based expressions or defenses. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between personality and alexithymia among tattooed and non-tattooed individuals, as well as to compare both groups on these dimensions. A purposive sample of 100 participants (50 tattooed and 50 non-tattooed) aged between 18 and 35 years was selected. The Big Five Inventory (BFI) by John & Srivastava (1999) [2] was used to assess personality traits, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) by Bagby, Parker, and Taylor (1994) [1] measured alexithymia levels. Independent samples t-tests and Pearson correlation analyses were used to examine differences and relationships. Results revealed that tattooed individuals scored significantly higher on openness to experience and extraversion, while non-tattooed individuals showed higher agreeableness and conscientiousness. Additionally, tattooed individuals exhibited moderately higher levels of alexithymia, particularly in difficulty identifying feelings. A negative correlation was found between openness and alexithymia, suggesting that individuals more open to new experiences are less likely to struggle with emotional identification. The findings indicate that tattoos may serve as a form of emotional expression and identity construction, especially among those who might otherwise struggle with articulating emotions verbally. This study contributes to understanding tattoos not merely as aesthetic choices but as meaningful psychological symbols linked to personality and emotional functioning.