Extroversion And Introversion Theory

Research in personality traits and tattoos has largely focused on the college population and compares body modified individuals to non-modified individuals. Much of it suggests that individuals with tattoos are more likely to display higher levels of extraversion. (Copes & Forthsyth 1993, Swami 2012a, swami 2012 b)

Eysenck & Eysenck’s (1967) work in personality proposes that extroversion and introversion are products of cortical arousal. Those with high cortical arousal (introverts) are more sensitive to external stimuli and therefore seek to avoid high amounts of it. While those with low cortical arousal (extroverts) are more likely to seek this through social stimulation. When applying this theory to people with tattoos, they are more likely to be extraverted and need to increase their levels of stimulation by drawing attention to themselves.
Participants were divided into four groups. Results showed males with readily visible tattoos had the highest percentage of extroverts (77.3%), followed by the hidden tattoos group which had 42.4%, while those considering having a tattoo were 32.3% and those with no tattoo were only 13.9% extroverted. Findings supported the view that people with tattoos were more likely to be extroverted than introverted, also the idea that individuals with visible tattoos are more likely to be extraverted and have a higher need for social stimulation. However this study neglects the risings amount of women with