Ink on Skin Doesn’t Necessarily Indicate Sin
A new study of college students finds a correlation between body art and deviant behavior, but only for those with multiple tattoos or piercings.
By: Tom Jacobs | January 4, 2010 | 12:35 PM (PDT) | 
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A new study suggests the relationship between body art and deviant behavior is significant only for those who have adorned their exteriors in extreme ways.
Dear Dr. Research:
My college-student daughter arrived home for Christmas vacation sporting a variety of tattoos and body piercings. Should I be concerned?
– Worried in Wichita
Dear Worried:
Body art is like real estate. The key factors are density and location, location, location.
* * *
That’s the conclusion of the latest research from a group of scholars at Texas Tech University that has spent much of the past decade studying the phenomenon of piercings and tattoos. The paper, just published in The Social Science Journal, suggests the relationship between body art and deviant behavior is significant only for those who have adorned their exteriors in extreme ways.
There’s no doubt that body art has gone mainstream. Surveying 1,753 students from four American colleges — two state-supported public schools and two highly selective religious institutions — they found 37 percent reported at least one piercing and 14 percent were tattooed. Four percent reported having seven or more piercings, four or more tattoos, and/or at least one piercing in their nipples or genitals.
Aside from their use of the body as a canvas, the students were asked about various aspects of their behavior, including drug and alcohol use, sexual activity and whether they cheat on tests.
The findings revealed “sharp differences in the levels of deviant behavior among those with just one tattoo vs. those with four or more, and among those with just one to three piercings vs. those with seven or more,” reports sociologist Jerome Koch, the paper’s lead author. “The level of deviance reported by respondents with low levels of body art is much closer to those with none than to those with multiple tattoos and piercings, or intimate piercings.”
“Results indicate that respondents with four or more tattoos, seven or more body piercings, or piercings located in their nipples or genitals, were substantially and significantly more likely to report regular marijuana use, occasional use of other drugs, and a history of being arrested for a crime,” the paper continues. “Less pronounced, but still significant in many cases, was an increased propensity for those with higher incidence of body art to cheat on college work, binge drink and report having had multiple sex partners over the course of their lifetime.”
The researchers suggest the traditional subculture of piercing and tattoos, traditionally associated with deviant behavior, has been “encroached upon from the outside” by the increasing acceptance of body art. So those who feel a part of this subculture “may need to modify or extend their behavior to maintain social distance.” Ergo, nipple piercings.
So, that butterfly on your sophomore’s ankle is not a sign she is hanging out with the wrong crowd. But if she comes home for spring break covered from head to toe, start worrying.
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*gag* *cough* BS *cough* *cough*
*gag* *cough* BS *cough* *cough*
This article seems to suggest that tattoos and piercings lead to deviant behavior, a mindset I hear too often and find ignorant and worry some. I feel that deviant behavior will most likely lead to tattoos and piercings, sure, but this article seems to spin this message on a more conservative side.
I'm sorry, but is this research even legitimate?? Are they seriously saying that there is a connection between body art and deviant behaviour?? Well obviously, when body art is considered deviant and pushed underground... jeez and this is called science.
nevermind the fact that the students from the religious institution are probably far less likey to engage in sex with multiple partners, smoke marijuana, cheat on tests, or be visibly tattooed or pierced, which would drastically skew the statistics. you could do this "study" with anything a religious institution generally abstains from and get these findings.
In addition to the very valid points raised by those before me; I have to add that I believe that the types of individuals who are inclined to express themselves in a very overt fashion (i.e. multiple tattoos and piercings) are also more likely to HONESTLY and overtly express themselves about other facets of their lives as well (i.e. drug use, cheating etc.) These individuals are much more likely not to give a d*mn what others think, and as such have no fear of admitting to activities that the more conservatively minded might keep hidden from others, even though they engage in them just the same.
this is very stupid. i have almost 10 tattoos, a lot of body piercings (including nipples and genital) and i smoked marihuana only twice in my life, i never did any other drug, i never was in jail, and i'm an university student (also, i have high grades). stop with your fascism, tattoos (even if the person is covered in them) have nothing to do with crime or drug abuse. my god, i know straight edge guys covered with tattoos!! and they don't even touch alcohol, tobacco cigarettes or meat!!!
Mm. Well. Here I am, with 8 tattoos, 4 piercings, and 2 scarifications. Each and every one of them carefully and thoughtfully considered for their symbolic, emotional and spiritual significance to my life. None of which I will regret, even when I'm old and the ink is as stretched and wrinkly and gross looking as I am. And yet, I'm vegetarian, I don't drink, don't smoke, have no criminal record, and I'm a very successful illustrator. So, when does my personal choice of self expression poison my behaviour? Oh yeah, when it scares people who don't bother trying to understand it.Great science we've got going on here.
This is a retarded article. Stupid texans lol
This is a retarded article. Stupid texans lol
Written By:Tom Jacobs
Tom Jacobs is a veteran journalist with more than 20 years experience at daily newspapers. He has served as a staff writer for The Los Angeles Daily News and the Santa Barbara News-Press. His work has also appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Ventura County Star.
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