New psychology research uncovers surprisingly consistent misjudgments of tattooed individuals
- Michigan State University published a study on July 2, 2025, revealing that people consistently misjudge tattooed individuals' personalities based on their tattoos alone.
- Researchers recruited 274 tattooed adults aged 18 to 70 and collected 375 tattoo images to examine if tattoo features could predict personality traits.
- Judges generally agreed on their personality perceptions of tattooed individuals, but these evaluations were mostly incorrect, except for a slight ability to accurately identify openness to experience based on the distinctiveness of the tattoos.
- Co-Author William Chopik explained that individuals generally form comparable impressions about someone with a tattoo, but these perceptions often do not accurately reflect the person's true traits.
- The findings imply widespread misconceptions about tattooed people and suggest future research should explore if these inaccurate judgments affect real-world behavior and discrimination.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Don't judge a person's personality based on their tattoos. Research shows you'll likely be wrong
People cannot accurately judge a person's personality based on the content of any tattoos, new research shows. But there is one exception. People with quirky tattoos often are accurately judged as being more open-minded.

Tattoos Don't Convey Accurate Impressions Of People, Study Says
Key Takeaways
Study Reveals The Massive Flaw In How Society Judges Tattooed People
Ever wonder what strangers think when they see your tattoo? A new study reveals that people make snap judgments about your personality based on one's ink, and they're getting it wrong almost every time. The post Study Reveals The Massive Flaw In How Society Judges Tattooed People appeared first on Study Finds.
Have tattoos? New study shows that people consistently misjudge your personality
A new study led by Michigan State University provides insights into the personality perceptions surrounding tattooed individuals. As tattoos become more mainstream, this research sheds light on how specific tattoos are judged—and shows how wrong those judgments can be.
New psychology research uncovers surprisingly consistent misjudgments of tattooed individuals
New research finds that while people often agree on what a tattoo says about someone’s personality, those judgments are usually wrong. The study reveals a consistent gap between how tattoos are perceived and the actual personalities of their wearers.
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