Narcissistic Personality Measures Discriminate Between Young Women With and Without Tattoos

Abstract

Tattooing was proposed as a creative way for self-expression of the individuality. In the present study we assessed possible association between tattoos and narcissistic personality characteristics. To this end we have evaluated the interaction between narcissism and presence of tattoos in young women. Young women (aged 18-35 years) with (N=60) and without (N=60) tattoos completed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). Women with tattoos had received significantly higher scores of the Exhibition subscale of the NPI than those without tattoos. A logistic regression analysis demonstrated that high level of Exhibition subscale and low level of education are significant contributors to getting tattoo amongst young women.