ERIC Number: EJ790627
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 4
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: N/A
Tattoos Can Harm Perceptions: A Study and Suggestions
Resenhoeft, Annette; Villa, Julie; Wiseman, David
Journal of American College Health, v56 n5 p593-596 Mar-Apr 2008
Objective: Health researchers have claimed that perceptions toward a person with a tattoo are more negative than are perceptions toward nontattooed persons. However, support for this has been obtained almost completely by nonexperimental research. Participants: In 2 experiments with 158 community college student participants, the authors found that tattoos harmed perceptions. Methods: Students viewed a photograph of a female model with and without a visible tattoo, and rated her on 13 personal characteristics. Results: In Experiment 1, ratings of a model with a dragon tattoo were significantly more negative (p less than 0.05) on 5 of the 13 personal characteristics than were ratings of the same model shown without the tattoo. In Experiment 2, which included different participants, a different model, and a different tattoo, the authors found that a dolphin tattoo led to more negative ratings on 2 of the 13 characteristics. Conclusions: The authors discuss possible impacts of tattoos on person perception as well as implications of the results for college student healthcare providers.
Descriptors: College Students, Photography, Social Attitudes, Student Attitudes, Community Colleges, Attitude Measures, Personality Traits
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Jersey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A