The Hidden Body Language of Tattoos and Piercings – Sex, Drugs and Risky Behaviour
Jenny Galvao
According to research by Nicolas Guéguen of the University of South Brittany, students with piercings and tattoos are more likely to engage in risky behaviour, including illegal drug use.
In the study Guéguen closely examine sexual activity as a risky behaviour and found that students with piercings and tattoos were also more likely to engage in pre-marital sex at an earlier age.
Piercings and tattoos are more than just a form of expression, they signify freedom, a sense of resistance from parental concerns as well as societal norms, and a general lack of concern over the opinion of others. This symbol of freedom can lead to an increased desire to engage in questionable behaviour, specifically sexual intercourse at a younger age.
Guéguen states that “piercings and tattoos are associated with early sexual activity” and claims “it could be argued that individuals with tattoos and/or piercings express deviant behaviour or are attracted to risky behaviours.”
In the experiment, students were approached on university campuses (of varying locations) and were asked if they would be willing to complete a three question survey on their romantic behaviour.
The survey questions asked at which age the individual first engaged in sexual intercourse, how many piercings they had (ranging from 0-5 or more), and how many tattoos they had (using the same range).
The results were conclusive; they showed that individuals with tattoos, piercings, or both, had engaged in sexual intercourse at an earlier age than individual without any tattoos or piercings.
The age difference between the two groups was approximately two years.
As Guéguen says “these comparisons revealed that the only tattoos, the only piercings, as well as the both piercings and tattoos conditions were associated with becoming sexually active at a younger age as compared to the neither piercings nor tattoos control condition.”
Tattoos and piercings are connected to expression, and exploration, and often these are connected to behaviour that society views as questionable or irresponsible, as it is often risky.
These findings are congruent with society’s view of tattoos or piercings. We see people who have tattoos and think of them as rebellious and risk seeking.
Tattoos and piercings have a link to deviant behaviour, and in this case earlier pre-marital sex. Additionally, should a person have a lot of tattoos or piercings one might assume that he or she has a lot of freedom. That freedom can permit them to partake in questionable behaviour and therefore stand out from the rest of society.
The ability and desire to mark ones body with unique modification can be read in others as a tendency towards deviant behaviour and as shown specifically in this study, include the desire for pre-marital sex at an earlier age.
In most cases, tattoos and piercings speak not only for themselves, but also for the individuals who possess them.
About the Author: Jenny Galvao is an undergraduate student at the University of Guelph studying psychology.
Resources
Guéguen, Nicolas. Tattoos, Peircings, and Sexual Activity. Social Behavior and Personality. 2019. 40(9): 1543-1548. http://dx.doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2019.40.9.1543