Tattoos might have become a fashion item for young people - but wearers are still more aggressive than others.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University surveyed 378 adults aged 20 to 58 - and found that tattooed adults were more angry and aggressive than others.
Women in particular reported ?significantly? higher levels of verbal aggression, according to Professor Viren Swami of Anglia Ruskin University.
There was even a correlation between the number of tattoos a person has, and their level of anger.
Professor Swami said, ?We found that tattooed adults had significantly higher reactive rebelliousness, but not proactive rebelliousness, compared with non-tattooed adults.
?One explanation is that people who have higher reactive rebelliousness may respond to disappointing and frustrating events by getting tattooed.
?That is, when these individuals experience a negative emotional event, they may be more likely to react by pursuing an act that is seen as defiant. The act of tattooing is perceived as rebellious, or more generally tattoos themselves can signify defiance or dissent.
?We also found that tattooed adults had higher aggression scores on two of the four dimensions of aggression that we measured, namely verbal aggression and anger.
?Although tattoos have now become commonplace in modern British society, our findings may have implications for understanding the reported associations between tattooing and risky behaviour among adults.?
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