1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Before we get started. This episode of the podcast does 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: contain references and discussions of child abuse. If this is 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 1: a sensitive topic for you, please reflect on whether you 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: are ready to listen to this episode. If you don't 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,479 Speaker 1: feel ready, it will still be here in a week, 6 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: a month, a year, whenever it's a better time to listen. 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: Take care of yourselves, and I'm sending you love and healing. 8 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: Hello everybody, Welcome back to the show. Welcome back to 9 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: the podcast. New listeners, old listeners. Wherever you are in 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: the world, it is so lovely, so great to have 11 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: you here. Back for another episode, as we, of course 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: break down the psychology of our twenties this week. When 13 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: I sat down at my desk and I was deciding 14 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: what to talk about this week, what did I want 15 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: to discuss, I made the decision to do something a 16 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: little bit fun, a little bit different. I wanted to 17 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: do an episode there that you might not think has 18 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,399 Speaker 1: anything to do with psychology. You know. I feel like 19 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: we've done quite a few serious, emotional, very in depth, 20 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: somewhat scientific episodes as of late, and I wanted to 21 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: kind of do something a bit more fun. One topic 22 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: that kept floating to the surface for me was tattoos. 23 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: Why do we get them, not just in our twenties, 24 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: but at any stage? How important are they to our identity? 25 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: Which tattoos do we end up regretting? Which ones do 26 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: we not end up regretting. Basically, I want to talk 27 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 1: about the psychology of tattoos, and that, my friends, is 28 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,320 Speaker 1: what we are going to do today. I have been 29 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: endlessly fascinated by this topic for some time. As someone 30 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: with tattoos, I have never actually considered why I got them? 31 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: Why was I called to literally get something permanently put 32 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: on my body after when I had just turned eighteen? 33 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: Why did I decide on specific designs? Why did I 34 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: just side on what to get? What was the motivation? 35 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: And in thinking about my own intentions with my tattoos, 36 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: I uncovered so much research that I did not even 37 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: know was out there. I also talked to some of 38 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: my friends. I am so lucky to have some incredible 39 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: friends in my life who are tattoo artists and who 40 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: make a living off of permanent art on somebody else's body, 41 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: like there is no other type of art like it. 42 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,239 Speaker 1: And I spoke to them and I was like, can 43 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: you tell me what you hear? From people who are 44 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: getting tattoos. Are you seeing a specific kind of person 45 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: get a specific kind of tattoo? Do people ever come 46 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: back and say they regret it? Like, tell me about 47 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: the emotional experience you have with a client when you 48 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: are putting something on their body. And it has just 49 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: been so fascinating talking to people about what kind of 50 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: feels like quite an innocuous subject. I also found this 51 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: interesting piece of research saying that the majority of people 52 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: who have tattoos got their first one in their twenties. 53 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: Now you may hear that and think that gemma, that 54 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: makes sense, right, Depending on where you live, most people 55 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: can't get tattoos before they turn eighteen, and even then 56 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 1: you probably don't have the money to get the tattoos 57 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: that you want until you're in your twenties. So it 58 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: feels like the time a lot of people are doing it. 59 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: But it also comes down to the fact that this 60 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: decade is when we are in peak identity formation season. 61 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: We've had our teen years to really explore, but it's 62 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: our twenties where we are really trying to find the 63 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: shoe or the outfit or the persona that fits. We 64 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: are trying to find our space we are really starting 65 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: to feel grounded in who we are. We're kind of 66 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: exploring different facets of our identity and sometimes that calls 67 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: for expression. It calls for something permanent to represent who 68 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: we are and what we're going through. That is where 69 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: tattoos come in. And I think of tattoos kind of 70 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: as like a testimony to the age you are when 71 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: you get them. And maybe in ten twenty years time 72 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: you'll look at it and think what was I thinking? Like, 73 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 1: what does this even mean? But maybe it's also, you know, 74 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 1: an important rite of passage to some people. It brings 75 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,600 Speaker 1: a sense of certainty. All right, don't want to spoil 76 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: the entire episode before we even get into it, but really, 77 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: what we are going to do today is just take 78 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: a big bite into all the fascinating research to do 79 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: with body modification, tattooing, even things like regret, as well 80 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: as do a brief kind of dive into some of 81 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: the history as well, because this topic has so many 82 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: dimensions to it. Without further ado, my lovely listeners, let 83 00:04:52,960 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: us get into the psychology of tattoos. Let's talk briefly 84 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 1: about the history of tattoos, because I feel like the 85 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: change in attitudes that we've experienced just in the last 86 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: fifty years is really quite striking and worth investigating. Now. 87 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: I always get in trouble when I talk about history 88 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: on this podcast because there are some very smart people 89 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 1: out there who know a lot more about very specific 90 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: topics than me and very graciously correct me when I'm wrong. 91 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: But I really did a deep dive into this one. 92 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: I used what I think is like the mother of 93 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 1: all guides, the Smithsonian's Worldwide History of Tattoos, to really 94 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: go in deep. So I hope that you are all 95 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: prepared for a bit of a factual start to this episode. 96 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 1: Some people will incorrectly assume or tell you that tattoos 97 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: first emerged in the eighteen hundreds. That cannot be further 98 00:05:55,960 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: from the truth. Humans have been marking their skin in 99 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: ritualistic and important ways for literally thousands of years around 100 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: the world, across different cultures. Tattoos are really really significant. 101 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: I think about you know, the Greeks, they used to 102 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: use tattoos to declare love. Indigenous Polynesians used to use 103 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 1: tattoos to tell personal stories. We see them in ancient 104 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: Serbian nomads. In Native South Americans, tattoos have this real 105 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: core place in the human story, how we express ourselves, 106 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: how we signify status, religious beliefs, even as just purely 107 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: a form of decoration. So I think what people generally 108 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: used to believe is that it was the Egyptians who 109 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: were like these so called inventors of inking skin, and 110 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: they used to use different kinds of pigments or ground 111 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: up insects, and they would insert the you know way 112 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: pigment into the skin using a piece of bronze or 113 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: like a sharp stick. There's also evidence of a very 114 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: famous mummy. It's called Otse the Iceman. If you're a 115 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: history buff, you'll know this mummy quite well. That individual 116 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: is almost six thousand years old. And when they found 117 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: this mummified person, he had tattoos. Six thousand years ago 118 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: people were already adorning their skin. Now that is really 119 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: the beginning of tattoos as we know it. Let's now 120 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: go forward about you know, five, seven hundred years, three 121 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: hundred years ago. During this time, specifically in Western cultures, 122 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: something changed when it came to our attitudes towards tattoos. 123 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: They used to be very culturally maybe religiously significant, and 124 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: then they started being considered a sign of being a 125 00:07:55,320 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: criminal or a deviant. They're associated with gangs, behaviors that 126 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: society doesn't approve of, and as such, they're banned in 127 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: some spaces. Actually, I remember visiting Japan last year and 128 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: not being able to enter the onsens or the hot 129 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: baths because I had tattoos. So it's still relevant in 130 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: some cultures. But we can link a lot of this 131 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: stigma back to a specific group of Christian missionaries who 132 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: did a really great job at convincing people back then 133 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 1: that tattoos would disfigure the sacred vessel given to us 134 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: by God, and consequently they were banned. They were banned 135 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: in Christianity, and as Christianity became more widespread, that same 136 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: belief was impressed upon different cultures, some of whom did 137 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: have a historical, I don't know, historical attachment to tattooing. 138 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,959 Speaker 1: Of of course, we know that did not stop people 139 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: from doing it, but it did bring about a stigma 140 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: that if you got tattoos, you were obviously not a 141 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: God fearing individual and therefore you were probably up to 142 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: no good. This is how they really became associated with being, 143 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: you know, a bit of a rebel, and they became 144 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:29,359 Speaker 1: associated with criminality and counterculture. But around like the nineteen forties, 145 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: specifically in America, there was a revival of tattooing in 146 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: Western cultures, and slowly more and more people knew someone 147 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: with a tattoo, they knew a relative, they knew someone 148 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: in the army. Then you know, they kind of thought 149 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: about getting one of their own. They have kids with tattoos. 150 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:53,439 Speaker 1: So nowadays, there's some estimates that between thirty to forty 151 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: eight percent of people in the country's surveys of countries 152 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: like Canada, America, Germany, and Australia, those were the country 153 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: is included in these studies, thirty to forty eight percent 154 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,559 Speaker 1: of people in those countries have tattoos. Now, if you're 155 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: in your twenties, the likelihood that you have a tattoo 156 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: is increased. It's around thirty eight to fifty two percent. 157 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: So that's showing that, like over time generationally, we have 158 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: become a lot more accepting and we're a lot more 159 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: normal about this idea. I remember before I got my 160 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: first tattoo, I was like still had this like fear 161 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: of not being able to find a job, specifically like 162 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: if it was visible. But nowadays, like this stigma has 163 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: definitely lessened. So there's your little history lesson for the day. 164 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 1: I know this is a psychology podcast. I will not 165 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: dwell on it for long, but I do think it's 166 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: important to cover because that attitudinal change does play into 167 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: the psychology behind why we may be drawn to get 168 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: a tattoo. All right, let's talk about that question now, 169 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: why why do we feel compelled to put something permanent 170 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: on our skin? So, when it comes down to it, 171 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:07,959 Speaker 1: when you're sitting in that tattoo chair, when you're waiting 172 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: for the needle to go in, you are probably in 173 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: that position because of one of four reasons. The first 174 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: is that you're looking to represent something of personal emotional 175 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,439 Speaker 1: significance on your body. This is a way of telling 176 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: your personal story and your personal beliefs and maybe reaffirming 177 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 1: to yourself what you care about. What's important to you? 178 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 1: Is it family? Is religion? Is it a specific value system. 179 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: One of the largest studies ever done on the psychology 180 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: of tattoos was conducted in South Africa with university students 181 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: between nineteen and thirty five. Now, some of them had tattoos, 182 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: some of them were considering it, some of them were 183 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 1: just like absolutely not at all, and the researchers said, 184 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: explain your reasoning, and then they imadically grouped the responses. Now, 185 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,679 Speaker 1: amongst people who had a tattoo or wanted a tattoo, 186 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: twenty five percent of them said the reason I would 187 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 1: want to do it is because this thing has a 188 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: personal meaning. It marks a significant experience or struggle for me. 189 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,439 Speaker 1: So some of the reasons given were, I got a 190 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: tattoo to honor my mother, to honor my siblings, because 191 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: it represents my life philosophy, because this really presents what 192 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: I was going through at a certain time in my 193 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: life and I want to remember it. This idea is 194 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 1: one I actually really want to grab onto for a second, 195 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: And it's the idea that tattoos can bring about a 196 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: sense of permanence. They can really anchor us to a 197 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: specific time and our identity and our feelings and what 198 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: we were going through in that moment. It's kind of like, 199 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: if I put this on my body, this experience will 200 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: always be part of me. I won't forget. I won't 201 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: forget that loved one, I won't forget my how capable 202 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: I was and how courageous I was to get through 203 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: an experience I'll never forget that. This is how I 204 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: see life, this is how I choose to live it. 205 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: So if our body is just a vessel for our soul, 206 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: you know, why not decorate it in the manner of 207 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: what is important to you. I find this reason, this 208 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: reasoning almost using your body like a journal, in some 209 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: ways quite compelling. I have tattoos from specific periods in 210 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,079 Speaker 1: my life, and when I think about them, I can 211 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 1: exactly remember what I was going through that made me 212 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: believe that this thing was important to get. One in particular, 213 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 1: and I have admitted this to very very few people 214 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: is a breakup tattoo. I went through this breakup when 215 00:13:55,679 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: I was eighteen, and it was really awful and I 216 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 1: don't know, it was just it was shrouded in a 217 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: lot of I don't know, it was complex. I'll just 218 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: say it was complex, and being my first like big heartbreak, 219 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: it taught me a lot. And I remember having this 220 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: resounding sense of like independence, like no matter what, you 221 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: need to be independent, you need to be able to 222 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 1: rely on yourself. You cannot get attached to any one person. 223 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: And so I got this like tattoo that represented that, 224 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: and now I have a more balanced perspective. But when 225 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: I look at that tattoo in the mirror, sometimes I 226 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: can exactly remember where I was when I got it. 227 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: And I don't just mean physically where I was, but 228 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: emotionally and mentally as well. Same for like my twenty 229 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: two tattoo. You know, I turned twenty two on the 230 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: twenty second of the second twenty twenty two. That felt 231 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: very significant to me. It felt very aligned, It felt 232 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: like it was something that needed to be held on to, 233 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: and you know, actually, quite frankly, like my twenty second 234 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: year was an amazing year of my life. Like I 235 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: quit my job, I met my boyfriend, I finally felt 236 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: happy in the city I was in. I had all 237 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: these opportunities. But you know, I do still sometimes look 238 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: at it and be like, why did you have to 239 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: get that? Why why did you have to get that? 240 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: Because you're not twenty two anymore. But I think we'll 241 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: talk about regret a little bit later. The biggest reason 242 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: for me in that moment was the emotional significance of 243 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: where I was, and for other people that it's really 244 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: important as well. It really comes down to self identity 245 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: and our desire to hold on to the feelings and 246 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: encounters that have shaped us, perhaps even using our body 247 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: as like a way to communicate who we are and 248 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: what we've experienced. I think about Harry Potter tattoos as 249 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: a perfect example of this, or any kind of fandom 250 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: or religious tattoo. These look called group identification tattoos. You know, 251 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 1: you put something on your body so that if someone 252 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: else saw it, they would know, maybe implicitly, what kind 253 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: of person you are, or if there were someone who 254 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: was interested in the same things, they could be like, oh, friend, 255 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: you know, I know who you are. We have this 256 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: thing in common even though we've never met. It's like 257 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 1: this form of communication or recognition belonging. It's a form 258 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: of belonging. Obviously, that can also take a terrible turn 259 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: if people are using hate symbols as a way to 260 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: identify a group to which they belong, Like that's this, 261 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: that's this philosophy taken to a very negative, dark extreme. 262 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: But it is still part of some people's motivations for 263 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: getting tattoos. The final value based reason for getting a 264 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: tattoo can be for cultural reasons. As we've already explained, 265 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: there are so many cultures with an amazing history of tattooing. 266 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: I think about our New Zealand and Marie neighbors here 267 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: in Australia who get I'm going to try and pronounce 268 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: this right tomoco, which is traditional mary tattoos that really 269 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 1: symbolize cultural pride, history story. They can mark like a 270 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 1: significant occasion like a marriage or a graduation. Side note, 271 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: I need you to look up how people get these tattoos, 272 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: because when I first saw that process, I genuinely was like, wow, 273 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: these are the toughest people on the planet. But yes, 274 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 1: that is a really big part of what calls people 275 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: to have something permanent on their skin. Let's talk about 276 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: the second reason we get tattoos, and that is because 277 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 1: it's just an appealing form of art. It's an extension 278 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: of our identity through decoration. Now, the first reason was 279 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 1: very deep, it's very identity based. This one is less deep. 280 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: Tattoos are pretty. We are just a canvas. Our body 281 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: is made to be adorned. Simple as that. Your tattoos 282 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 1: don't need a specific meaning. In a recent episode, actually 283 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:16,920 Speaker 1: a guest was telling me about a friend of hers 284 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: who gets random tattoos whenever she feels like it. You know, 285 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: she's I think in her fifties, and she'll go into 286 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 1: a tattoo parlor on a Saturday and just say, go 287 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 1: for it, decorate me. You know, if she sees a 288 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 1: cool cartoon, a word she loves, an image, a pattern, 289 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: she just does it. I think that is a beautiful 290 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: way to think about our body and to think about, 291 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: you know, its permanence or lack of permanence in this world. 292 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 1: Something I do always struggle with when it comes to 293 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: this though, or I debate with myself when it comes 294 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 1: to should I get a specific tattoo? Should I get 295 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: a specific design? Is do I just think this is 296 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 1: cute because it's a trending design? Is this just the 297 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: same as a viral sweater or a viral lip balm? 298 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 1: But it is going to be on my body forever? 299 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 1: That's something I consider a lot. If tattoos are self expression, 300 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,439 Speaker 1: why is it that a lot of us end up 301 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: getting similar tattoos? Like some examples, I can think of 302 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 1: the love heart tattoos everyone was getting on their fingers, 303 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: like back in like twenty fifteen, twenty sixteen, Infinity tattoos. 304 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: Now it's like micro tattoos, cowboy tattoos, which I think 305 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: are really really cute that lion tattoo that everyone used 306 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: to get on their finger. None of these are inherently 307 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:44,360 Speaker 1: bad tattoos, but it's interesting that a lot of us 308 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: got them at the same time. And I think what 309 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 1: it reflects is like a shared esthetic appreciation, shared cultural trends, 310 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: community identity, of course, and you know the Internet is 311 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,719 Speaker 1: obviously some parts of the Internet are a communit so 312 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 1: we all kind of feel excited by the same things. 313 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:06,400 Speaker 1: We end up finding beauty in the same things. I think, 314 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 1: just like art in general has different seasons and movements, 315 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 1: like abstract art, the Renaissance, contemporary art, tattoos go through 316 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: these kind of seasons as well, and it means that 317 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 1: a lot of people will jump on the bandwagon. Now, 318 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,360 Speaker 1: I don't think this is a bad thing, quite honestly. 319 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: Like I think, just because you find something beautiful and 320 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:33,199 Speaker 1: someone else also finds that beautiful doesn't mean you are 321 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: not unique. I actually think that when I see someone 322 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 1: with these tattoos, I'm like, wow, you are kind of 323 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: a tapestry for the culture and age that we're living in. 324 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 1: You know, this is you're a part of history, Like 325 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 1: this is actually quite cool that you have this thing 326 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: on your body that I know this is quite morbid. 327 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 1: But say someone was to dig you up in three 328 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:00,479 Speaker 1: thousand years, like that mummy we talked about, and they 329 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 1: found like a tattoo of a heart on your finger. 330 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,680 Speaker 1: They could say, oh wow, that must have been important 331 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 1: at the time. That must have been something that was 332 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: esthetic to people at the time. And I find that 333 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: very very interesting. Okay, we are going to take a 334 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:18,120 Speaker 1: quick break because I'm fully about to shift gears here. 335 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: But when I return, let's talk about the role of 336 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 1: tattooing in coping, healing from trauma, and whether this practice 337 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: can actually become addictive, all of that and so much more. 338 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 1: After this short break, a few years ago, I came 339 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 1: across an article by someone calling themselves an ink nurse, 340 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 1: and they talked about this idea of ink or tattoo therapy. Essentially, 341 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: her take was that everything we feel emotionally and mentally 342 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 1: cannot disappear through the mind alone. It also needs to 343 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 1: be processed by the body. Now, for some people, emotions 344 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 1: are processed through tears and grief, maybe rage, exercise, making art. 345 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: For others, the way they process trauma, psychological pain, heartache, 346 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: anything that the human soul has kind of gone through 347 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: is through tattoos. Why is this the case, Well, firstly, 348 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,439 Speaker 1: I think it's because tattoos give us a sense of 349 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:36,959 Speaker 1: control we may be lacking in our ordinary life. In 350 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: this way, you know you have this immense power to 351 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: do to your body what you wish to do with it, 352 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: and it can really help you reclaim your identity by 353 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: making it your own through an outward depiction of what 354 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:53,959 Speaker 1: matters to you, or what you find interesting or what 355 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 1: you find beautiful. You're saying, I have complete ownership over 356 00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 1: my body, So this is what I'm going to do 357 00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: with it. I want to talk about one piece of 358 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: research that really speaks to this reclaiming and this powerful 359 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:13,440 Speaker 1: healing of tattoos. In particular, this piece of research actually 360 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:18,359 Speaker 1: looked at the association between childhood abuse and neglect with 361 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:23,360 Speaker 1: our likelihood of getting tattoos and piercings. It was conducted 362 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,120 Speaker 1: in Germany with over one thousand participants, and they did 363 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:32,640 Speaker 1: find tattoos and piercings more common amongst individuals who reported 364 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 1: childhood abuse and neglect. So they're linking this very deep 365 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: emotional suffering with a way of adorning and treating our bodies. Now, 366 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: what They also concluded is that body modification in this 367 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:51,920 Speaker 1: sense was actually a very empowering experience for these people, 368 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 1: because although they had suffered this great adversity, they were 369 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: now taking back the control. And there was also this 370 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: weird sense relating to pain and letting that pain be 371 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: self inflicted was actually quite empowering compared to times when 372 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: pain had been used against them. It's deeply psychological and 373 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 1: to me, this explanation makes a lot of sense. And 374 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 1: these findings have been corroborated in another piece of research 375 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 1: that was published just a little bit later on. These 376 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 1: researchers talk about how our desire to get specific tattoos, 377 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 1: or even to get tattoos at all, actually gives us 378 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 1: a real peak, a real vision into someone's psyche. Right 379 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 1: what they choose to get on their body is actually 380 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:49,200 Speaker 1: a really i don't know, I don't want to say 381 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: interesting again, but it's a very secretive, almost in depth 382 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 1: way of understanding what they've been through and how they 383 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: see the world. So this paper, this was published in 384 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: two thousand than seventeen. It actually talks about how therapists 385 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 1: can prompt an open discussion with someone using their tattoos, 386 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,679 Speaker 1: asking them about their tattoos, asking them about their meaning, 387 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 1: their motivations forgetting them, as a way to kind of 388 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: have a breakthrough with a client. Basically, if someone has 389 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 1: a specific piece of art, it's obviously important enough for 390 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 1: them to have put it on their body. So there 391 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: must have been some motivation that has caused them to 392 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: think that this is a good idea and that this 393 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: is what they want. What is that motivation linked to? 394 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: What can that tell you about who they are as 395 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 1: a person? Not only that, not only is it linked 396 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 1: to control, Not only is it linked to personality, Tattoos 397 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 1: have also been shown to change how we think about 398 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: our bodies. Having that control and being able to make 399 00:25:56,600 --> 00:26:01,360 Speaker 1: ourselves into a form of art is so oh mentally 400 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 1: powerful if you are someone who struggles with things like 401 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 1: body dysmorphia or just general unhappiness towards your appearance. There 402 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: have been some studies, including a specific one I'm thinking 403 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: about from twenty eleven, that showed that right after getting 404 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 1: a tattoo, individuals reportedly feel better about their bodies. They 405 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 1: experience less appearance based anxiety. They also express less fear 406 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:31,439 Speaker 1: of being perceived in that kind of way. Tattoos are 407 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 1: like a psychological armor, and for that reason, they also 408 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: influence our emotional state. So our emotional state influences whether 409 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: we get them, and then once we do get them, 410 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:46,800 Speaker 1: that has a further impact. It's like a cycle. That 411 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 1: is why tattoos can become addictive, because the process of 412 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 1: getting them makes us feel some sort of way. Anything 413 00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: that changes our mood such that we associate inactivity with 414 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 1: immediately feeling better has the capacity to become addictive. You know, alcohol, 415 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 1: for example, makes us feel less anxious and more lively. 416 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 1: That emotional association makes it addictive, and phetamines give us 417 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:19,199 Speaker 1: that huge rush, make us feel joyous. Gambling makes us 418 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 1: feel fulfilled by possibility. Tattoos bring us a sense of control, 419 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: and according to that same study, they also make us 420 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: feel better about how we look. They make us feel 421 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: more at peace with our past, and they can make 422 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 1: our lives feel more purposeful and significant. That is a 423 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 1: very addictive feeling. I think a lot of us we 424 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:44,239 Speaker 1: do a lot of things to feel happy in who 425 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 1: we are, to feel at peace with our past, to 426 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:51,119 Speaker 1: feel meaningful in our life. That's pretty addictive. Therefore, getting 427 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:56,440 Speaker 1: tattoos is also addictive. It's a common experience I've heard 428 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,640 Speaker 1: from tattoo artists that they will get a client who 429 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,400 Speaker 1: has never had a tattoo before, they will give them 430 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,680 Speaker 1: their first tattoo, and then a month later this person 431 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:09,400 Speaker 1: will come back and have like dozens because the process 432 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:13,200 Speaker 1: for them is so emotionally satisfying. Some of that comes 433 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 1: down to our experiences with pain. Yes, we mostly want 434 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 1: to avoid it, that's how we're hardwired. But there are 435 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: some people who actually find it quite pleasurable and quite 436 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 1: that brings about quite a sense of relief. Some people 437 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:34,359 Speaker 1: find catharsis in the process of getting a tattoo. You 438 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: know that there's like this painful experience that then provides 439 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: a really amazing result. It lets out pain that they 440 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 1: may be feeling internally. All of this actually creates a 441 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 1: lot of enjoyment that we associate with the process. We 442 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: can also get quote unquote addicted to tattooing because of 443 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 1: the role of two chemicals in our body, adrenaline and endorphins. 444 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 1: Endorphins I'm just using as a general way of saying 445 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 1: pleasant chemical messages. So the anticipation of and the pain 446 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 1: that we experience from tattooing that can lead to an 447 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 1: adrenaline rush. This will naturally create a feeling of almost euphoria. Now, 448 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: the adrenaline that is released in response to pain is 449 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 1: meant to lessen the painful experience, but it actually means 450 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: that we begin to associate the act of getting tattooed with, 451 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings. Given 452 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:40,240 Speaker 1: you know, the level of anticipation with any first experience, 453 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: that adrenaline rush is going to be heightened. So the 454 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 1: first time you get a tattoo, you are going to 455 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: experience the largest adrenaline rush from the specific activity that 456 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 1: you will ever experience. But people will continue to seek 457 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: that rush, and that is why we can perhaps explain 458 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: people who come back and come back and come back. 459 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 1: It looks like an addiction, but it's more them chasing 460 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,960 Speaker 1: a specific feeling. Now, after getting a tattoo, our body 461 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 1: will also naturally release endorphins to soothe our pain, to 462 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: target inflammation that also feels amazing. Some of the endorphins 463 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 1: that will be experiencing are natural opioids, natural pain relievers 464 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 1: that we know are extremely addictive. So that combination of 465 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 1: the rush of adrenaline then the emotional and physical comfort 466 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 1: of endorphins may encourage us to keep going back. Now, 467 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:43,920 Speaker 1: this can be a dangerous process, and something that always 468 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 1: comes up in discussions about tattoos is regret. If you're 469 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 1: getting a tattoo after tattoo after tattoo, are you making 470 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 1: the best decisions? Are you being wise about what you 471 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 1: want on your body permanently? Now, this is always going 472 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 1: to come into this discussion, and you'll frequently hear it 473 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 1: from like older generations or people who feel uncertain about tattoos. 474 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: They'll ask you like, are you sure you want this 475 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:13,600 Speaker 1: on your body forever? Like you know that this is forever? Right? 476 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:17,240 Speaker 1: Are you sure that thirty year old you or fifty 477 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: year old you or eighty year old you, is that 478 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 1: version of yourself going and love it as much as 479 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: you do? Now? Like, how do you know this is 480 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 1: a smart decision? I'm going to answer that question for 481 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: you right here, right now. You don't. You don't. And 482 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: there is potential regret in absolutely everything. So chances are 483 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: you might look at that tattoo at some point and say, Eh, 484 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 1: that wasn't the best decision. But I don't think we 485 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 1: need to fear regret all that much. I don't think 486 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,480 Speaker 1: it's actually the worst thing that you can ever experience. 487 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:53,800 Speaker 1: I even think about the tattoos that I don't like now, 488 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:57,440 Speaker 1: I still enjoy them for what they meant to me 489 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:00,840 Speaker 1: back then. They're kind of like skull in a way. 490 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 1: You know, they make a good story. They tell something 491 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:08,880 Speaker 1: about my experience, and they bring me a very strange 492 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 1: but very valued connection with my past self, Like I 493 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 1: can tap into exactly what she was thinking at that time, 494 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 1: which I find quite special. And you know, tattoos are 495 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 1: going to change as you get older. They aren't gonna 496 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 1: look the same. They're going to be shaped by age, 497 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 1: and that is something that you can that you should 498 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 1: be remembering. But also these days, like they're not permanent. 499 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 1: I saw that image of Pete Davidson recently when I 500 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:39,000 Speaker 1: was in LA, Like I saw the billboard that he 501 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:42,880 Speaker 1: did for a Reformation, like all of his tattoos gone. 502 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 1: Like it's possible. It's expensive, but it's possible. Probably not 503 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 1: what you should be considering, though, Like if you're getting 504 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 1: a tattoo and you're thinking, oh, whatever, I can remove 505 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 1: it someday, not the mindset you should go in with, 506 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:01,680 Speaker 1: because it is still a painful process and it still 507 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 1: will leave a mark and like this is you should 508 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 1: be thinking of it as permanent. If you want to 509 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 1: get like a semi permanent tattoo, like go and get 510 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:11,960 Speaker 1: those ones that you can like put on with a 511 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: wet cloth, Like if you're going and thinking I can 512 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,040 Speaker 1: get this removed one day, you know, the easiest way 513 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:20,080 Speaker 1: for that to happen is to just not get it 514 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:23,080 Speaker 1: right now. So I want to briefly talk about some 515 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 1: tips for making the right decision about a tattoo, because 516 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:29,560 Speaker 1: it's important, you know, if you want to get one, 517 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,240 Speaker 1: I think that's amazing. I really like mine. I find 518 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 1: them like very decorative, very fun, good conversation starters. But 519 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 1: you want to make smart decisions, like you don't want 520 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 1: your first tattoo to be like an all out like 521 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: snake down your entire body, or maybe you do, but 522 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:47,600 Speaker 1: this is what you should be thinking about. The most 523 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:50,600 Speaker 1: common reasons people regret their tattoos, according to a recent 524 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 1: piece of research, is that it was impulsive. So around 525 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 1: thirty five percent of people say I regret it because 526 00:33:56,080 --> 00:34:01,800 Speaker 1: it was impulsive, it didn't have a significant meaning, or 527 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:05,520 Speaker 1: they thought it would make them look cool and it doesn't. 528 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:09,080 Speaker 1: What we do find is the more thoughtful and careful 529 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 1: you are about a tattoo, the less likely you are 530 00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 1: to regret it. So, if you are thinking about getting 531 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 1: something on your skin before you do, print off that tattoo, 532 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 1: the tattoo design that you have, put it somewhere that 533 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:27,160 Speaker 1: you'd see it every single day to make sure you 534 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 1: don't get sick of it. And I think it's like 535 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:31,960 Speaker 1: recommended to do this for like three to six months. 536 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 1: You know, if this is a tattoo you genuinely want 537 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 1: and then you're going to love, You're still going to 538 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 1: want it in six months, You're still going to want 539 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:43,239 Speaker 1: it in a year. And this is a great insurance 540 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:45,839 Speaker 1: for you to say, Okay, if I had to look 541 00:34:45,840 --> 00:34:50,360 Speaker 1: at this every single day, would I still want it? Secondly, 542 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:55,680 Speaker 1: when you start, start small, start with somewhere not visible. 543 00:34:56,200 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 1: Also just important to see how your body reacts to it, 544 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:02,560 Speaker 1: whether like you actually like the process and you're not 545 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 1: halfway through a tattoo in so much pain regretting it 546 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:10,160 Speaker 1: and it's somewhere really really visible. I think that's just wise. 547 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:15,759 Speaker 1: Don't get tattoos when you're drunk. Oh my lord. I 548 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:18,719 Speaker 1: have friends who have done this. Not only did they 549 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:21,799 Speaker 1: end up looking really bad, because their blood was really thin, 550 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:25,560 Speaker 1: so it leaked. But it really comes down to the 551 00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: impulsive nature of this. This might be a controversial one, 552 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 1: and it mind sound hypocritical considering I got my first 553 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,640 Speaker 1: tattoo when I was eighteen, But if I had to 554 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:40,240 Speaker 1: go back, I would say, don't get a tattoo before 555 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 1: you turn twenty, please. Like I don't know why. That 556 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:49,040 Speaker 1: feels like a good distinction. But the longer you can wait, 557 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:53,520 Speaker 1: the better. I think getting a tattoo young, and I 558 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:58,279 Speaker 1: still think like eighteen, nineteen twenty is quite young. I'm 559 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:00,920 Speaker 1: not saying it's going to increase your chair regretting it. 560 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:04,040 Speaker 1: I'm just saying that getting a tattoo a little bit 561 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:08,520 Speaker 1: older might reduce your chances of regretting it and finally 562 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:13,440 Speaker 1: be safe. And if it costs more, that's not a 563 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:18,319 Speaker 1: bad thing. This is like a permanent accessory for you. 564 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 1: Think about how much you would spend on a really 565 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:25,000 Speaker 1: nice pair of jeans, really nice pair of shoes, on 566 00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:29,359 Speaker 1: a handbag like this, Think about cost per wear. Here. 567 00:36:30,719 --> 00:36:32,799 Speaker 1: You're going to be wearing this every single day of 568 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 1: your life, so it is an investment. Go to a 569 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:43,160 Speaker 1: good tattoo artist. I have seen so many terrible tattoos 570 00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:46,040 Speaker 1: in my day, and on Reddit and on Pinterest and 571 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 1: on Instagram. You don't want to be that. Just because 572 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 1: you want the tattoo really badly right now, you will 573 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:53,880 Speaker 1: still want it in three months when you have a 574 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 1: little bit more money. Trust me, it really makes all 575 00:36:57,719 --> 00:37:00,080 Speaker 1: the difference. I am so lucky that one of my 576 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:04,080 Speaker 1: best friends is a tattoo artist and I trust her 577 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:07,120 Speaker 1: more than anyone. And you can really tell the difference 578 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:10,440 Speaker 1: between someone who is really passionate about their craft and 579 00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:14,560 Speaker 1: does everything right and someone who is doing tattoos for 580 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 1: five dollars at like somewhere on a strip. More So, 581 00:37:18,640 --> 00:37:23,880 Speaker 1: those would be my most significant important tips. Also, maybe 582 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:27,960 Speaker 1: some advice to younger Gemma to baby Gemma around what 583 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:30,880 Speaker 1: she should have done differently. You know what, though, I 584 00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:34,759 Speaker 1: want to finish out this episode by saying, it is 585 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:38,520 Speaker 1: your body. It is your body to have regrets about. 586 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:42,560 Speaker 1: It is your body to modify. It is your body 587 00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 1: to express and to demonstrate with and to decorate. So yes, 588 00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:53,319 Speaker 1: make smart decisions, but don't consider disappointing people as part 589 00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:56,000 Speaker 1: of it. Don't consider what other people are going to 590 00:37:56,120 --> 00:38:00,840 Speaker 1: think too much. So in this consideration of getting a tattoo. 591 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:04,360 Speaker 1: If it's something that's important to you, if it's something 592 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:06,920 Speaker 1: that you think will ground you, if it's something that 593 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 1: you think will help with healing, and will you know, 594 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 1: perhaps psychologically shift how you see yourself. That is always 595 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:17,480 Speaker 1: going to be worth it in my mind. And if 596 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:19,960 Speaker 1: you just like it and you want a tattoo, do 597 00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:23,920 Speaker 1: it like you're young. If you're worried about other people's opinions, 598 00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:26,279 Speaker 1: get it somewhere no one can see. Make it quite 599 00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:29,080 Speaker 1: an intimate part of you. I actually think it's quite 600 00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:32,600 Speaker 1: a beautiful rite of passage. It's something that was on 601 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:34,520 Speaker 1: my bucket list when I'm a kid. I'm glad that 602 00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:38,800 Speaker 1: I've done it. And for all the thoughts about it, again, 603 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:41,880 Speaker 1: it just comes down to personal preference and what's going 604 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:43,879 Speaker 1: to make you feel good and what's going to make 605 00:38:43,880 --> 00:38:47,040 Speaker 1: you feel happy in the form and the vessel that 606 00:38:47,080 --> 00:38:51,040 Speaker 1: you're in. So I hope you enjoyed this episode. Now, 607 00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:53,200 Speaker 1: the people who make it this far know that they 608 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:58,840 Speaker 1: will always get a little emoji. So for your emoji, 609 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:02,279 Speaker 1: choose the emotion that you would most want tattooed on 610 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:06,600 Speaker 1: your body. Let's confuse the people who don't listen to 611 00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:08,560 Speaker 1: the end, but then pretend they do because they see 612 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:12,880 Speaker 1: the emoji. What are you most likely to want to 613 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:15,719 Speaker 1: get from the little Emoji list? And if you have 614 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:19,040 Speaker 1: a tattoo, let me know. Do you regret any of 615 00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:23,000 Speaker 1: your tattoos and why? Let's kind of share the word, 616 00:39:23,080 --> 00:39:25,840 Speaker 1: share the knowledge so someone else might not make the 617 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:29,080 Speaker 1: same mistake. I've already told you mine. I regret two 618 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:33,080 Speaker 1: of mine, my twenty two and my one post breakup, 619 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:35,680 Speaker 1: but I still love them, so I hope you still 620 00:39:35,719 --> 00:39:38,920 Speaker 1: love yours as well. But please share below, make sure 621 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:42,400 Speaker 1: that you are following and you leave a five star review. Also, 622 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:46,280 Speaker 1: if you have further questions, stories, I don't know comments 623 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:49,600 Speaker 1: about this episode, you can always message me at that 624 00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 1: Psychology podcast on Instagram. I'd love to hear from you. 625 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:57,800 Speaker 1: Until next time, though, stay safe, please be kind, be 626 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:01,640 Speaker 1: gentle to yourself, and I will talk to you very 627 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:07,360 Speaker 1: very soon. H