NCJ Number
79127
Date Published
1976
Length
123 pages
Annotation
This paper presents the findings of a study of tattooed and nontattooed incarcerated narcotic addicts which focused on the relationship of tattoos and self-perception of body image.
Abstract
Forty male narcotic addicts incarcerated at the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act (NARA) Unit at Terminal Island, San Pedro, Calif., were selected according to the extent that their bodies were or were not tattooed and assigned to 1 of 3 groups: 14 highly tattooed, 15 lesser tattooed, and 11 nontattooed. The 40 subjects were administered the Rorschach and the Internal-External Locus of Control Scale in randomly assigned groups (without regard to the degree of tattooing). The resultant Rorschach data were scored by the Body Image Boundary Barrier Index developed by Cleveland and Fisher in 1958. As predicted, the highly tattooed group were found to have a significantly higher barrier score than their nontattooed counterparts, indicating a significant body image difference distinguishable by tattoos in an otherwise homogeneous sample of incarcerated narcotics addicts. The highly tattooed group were found to possess significantly less belief in internal control than their nontattooed counterparts. The lesser tattooed group also had less belief in internal control than the nontattooed group. This finding indicates that tattooed addicts rely frequently on fate, chance, luck, or powerful 'others' to explain and predict the reinforcements they glean from life events. The paper suggests that the highly tattooed addict is a confirmed addict. Over 60 references, tables, and study instruments and data are provided. (Author abstract modified)