Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo
Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo
37 Becoming and Being a Tattooed Person volvement with tattooed people. and chose institutionaltzed subjects who are "convenient to manage in their research situations" (Taylor. 1970: 87). It is hardly surprising. therefore. that psychiatrically trained researchers who study tattooed inmates of mental institutions discover a ltnk between possession of tattoos and psychopathology. or that criminologists who study incarcerated tattooees commonly find a relationship between being tattooed and being inclined to engage in legally proscribed activities. The serious (as opposed to fan-oriented or popular) literature on tattooing tends to present relatively simpltstic and commonly monistic perspectives on the motives and character of tattooed persons. In part. this is due to methodological weaknesses-few studies make use of control groups. research subjects are drawn from highly selected populations. and there is an overreltance on standard psychological tests and official records. Researchers' conclusions commonly are subjective and value-laden (Taylor. 1970: 85-86). Further. the analyses are overdeterministic (Wrong. 1961). The decision to be tattooed is consistently presented as being driven by assumed internal malfunctions or externally generated socio-pathology rather than being due to the exercise of choice within the bounds of available behavioral alternatives as defined by the actor. The decision to be tattooed is rarely presented as haVing essentially "healthy." pro-social. self-affirming roots; most studies are premised on an assumption of pathology. PsychiatriC studies of tattooed persons focus almost exclusively on inmates of mental institutions. 1 Even a cursory review of the medical and psychiatric ltterature shows that researchers have a relatively low regard for "those persons who have their bodies painfully scarred" (Newman. 1982: 232) with tattoos. The tattooed person is variously described as "simple-minded." "immature." "hostile." "aggressive." "self-destructive." "untrustworthy." and "infantile" (Goldstein. 1979c: 883. 885; Zimmerman. 1979: 911). Being tattooed commonly is defined as symptomatic of psychopathology. Briggs (1958: 1039). for example. observes: The presence of a single meaningless tattoo mark suggests a prepsychotic or psychotic phenomena (sic) ... the appearance of multiple tattoo marks which differ greatly in motivation.
38 Becoming and Being a Tattooed Person which have no symmetry. and which have no apparent connection one with the other. is always diagnostic of a severe psychoneurosis.... The type of tattoo may be such that the type of psychoneurosis may be apparent. ... A study of the tattooed individual. the designs and the obvious motivation behind each design is as valuable in determining the emotional pattern of an individual as is a multiphasic personality test or a Rorschach test. In those studies in which the MMPI is delivered to institutionalized tattooed persons. the results show tattooees to score high on the psychopathic deviation scale (Kurtzberg et al.. 1967) and the hypomania measures (Yamamoto et al.. 1963). The sexual symbolism of tattoo designs is of particular interest to psychiatric researchers. These analysts consistently define the possession of overtly heterosexual images (for example. nude women. "pornographic" phrases) as actually revealing the homosexual interests or hidden homosexual anxieties of the bearer (Yamamoto et al.. 1963: 365; Post. 1968: 519; Grumet. 1983: 486 487; Haines and Huffman. 1958: 111; KaI:1der and Kohn. 1943: 326-327; Parry. 1971 11933]: 1-23). Much is made of the sexual symbolism of the tattoo process: "The very process of tattooing is essentially sexual. There are the long. sharp needles. There is the liquid poured into the pricked skin. There are the two participants of the act. one active. the other passive. There is the curious marriage of pleasure and pain" (Parry. 1971 (1933): 1). Some commentators go even further. suggesting that tattoo artists are typically latent or overt homosexuals "who have chosen this occupation because it puts them in almost constant close proximity to the male body. which they can feel. stroke. and fondle without arousing suspicion" (Post. 1968: 519).2 In a somewhat more charitable vein. some psychiatrically oriented analysts see tattoos as having ego-protecting functions. Hamburger (1966). for example. hypothesizes that tattooees suffer from an "underdeveloped ego" and the tattoo is a mechanism by which the tattooed person copes with this inadequacy. In another relatively sympathetic discussion. PoppIestone (1963) presents the
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38 Becoming and Being a <strong>Tattoo</strong>ed Person<br />
which have no symmetry. and which have no apparent<br />
connection one with <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r. is always diagnostic of a severe<br />
psychoneurosis.... The type of tattoo may be such that <strong>the</strong><br />
type of psychoneurosis may be apparent. ... A study of <strong>the</strong><br />
tattooed individual. <strong>the</strong> designs and <strong>the</strong> obvious motivation<br />
behind each design is as valuable in determining <strong>the</strong> emotional<br />
pattern of an individual as is a multiphasic personality test or<br />
a Rorschach test.<br />
In those studies in which <strong>the</strong> MMPI is delivered to institutionalized<br />
tattooed persons. <strong>the</strong> results show tattooees to score high<br />
on <strong>the</strong> psychopathic deviation scale (Kurtzberg et al.. 1967) and<br />
<strong>the</strong> hypomania measures (Yamamoto et al.. 1963).<br />
The sexual symbolism of tattoo designs is of particular interest<br />
to psychiatric researchers. These analysts consistently define <strong>the</strong><br />
possession of overtly heterosexual images (for example. nude<br />
women. "pornographic" phrases) as actually revealing <strong>the</strong> homosexual<br />
interests or hidden homosexual anxieties of <strong>the</strong> bearer (Yamamoto<br />
et al.. 1963: 365; Post. 1968: 519; Grumet. 1983: 486<br />
487; Haines and Huffman. 1958: 111; KaI:1der and Kohn. 1943:<br />
326-327; Parry. 1971 11933]: 1-23). Much is made of <strong>the</strong> sexual<br />
symbolism of <strong>the</strong> tattoo process: "The very process of tattooing is<br />
essentially sexual. There are <strong>the</strong> long. sharp needles. There is <strong>the</strong><br />
liquid poured into <strong>the</strong> pricked skin. There are <strong>the</strong> two participants<br />
of <strong>the</strong> act. one active. <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r passive. There is <strong>the</strong> curious<br />
marriage of pleasure and pain" (Parry. 1971 (1933): 1). Some<br />
commentators go even fur<strong>the</strong>r. suggesting that tattoo artists are<br />
typically latent or overt homosexuals "who have chosen this occupation<br />
because it puts <strong>the</strong>m in almost constant close proximity to<br />
<strong>the</strong> male body. which <strong>the</strong>y can feel. stroke. and fondle without<br />
arousing suspicion" (Post. 1968: 519).2<br />
In a somewhat more charitable vein. some psychiatrically oriented<br />
analysts see tattoos as having ego-protecting functions.<br />
Hamburger (1966). for example. hypo<strong>the</strong>sizes that tattooees suffer<br />
from an "underdeveloped ego" and <strong>the</strong> tattoo is a mechanism by<br />
which <strong>the</strong> tattooed person copes with this inadequacy. In ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
relatively sympa<strong>the</strong>tic discussion. PoppIestone (1963) presents <strong>the</strong>
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