Why People Get More Tattoos

Over the past decade, the tattoo industry has gone through tremendous changes. A few decades ago, you would merely find ink on prison inmates, gang members, sailors and the military etc. In other words, those who chose to be tattooed were generally from the lower class. Nowadays, on the other hand, tattoos are on nearly everyone. With lightning speed, we have seen an emblem that was once considered as socially tabooed evolve into a major aspect of popular culture. How come it underwent such a rapid rise to the top? And why do people get more and more tattoos?

According to the article “Why do people go back for more and more tattoos” published on BBC news magazine on the 1st of October 2013 by Jon Kelly, one in five US adults say they have a tattoo. On top of this, Kelly narrates that these days even English personalities such as David Beckham, Cheryl Cole and not least the former prime minister’s wife, Samantha Cameron are tattoo bearers. As a matter of fact, the tattoo industry has become such a massive success that TV shows based on the tattoo industry are springing up on major networks. Take, for instance the series “My Tattoo Addiction”, which focused on individuals covered with extensive arrays of ink. Increasingly bearers are no longer content to settle for a single tattoo. Some people, such as Beckham, who has no fewer than 34 tattoos or Cole, who has a bunch of roses inked seem to just have fallen in love with the art. In addition to this, psychologist Viren Swami of Westminster University argues that "It seems to be predominantly about the idea that you feel unique as an individual.” (p. 5, l. 1). Others even compare getting tattoos to a rite of passage such as running a marathon, seeing that tattoos not only are a controllable stigma, they also represent a choice made by the tattooed person rather than an unavoidable, inherited attribute. Furthermore, once you have gotten inked, you are already aware the pain, and what you can stand. Therefore, some tattoo bearers indeed find the needlework satisfying, when they go back for more and more tattoos.