Once dismissed as signs of rebellion or deviance, tattoos have evolved into a mainstream form of self-expression, now proudly displayed by millions around the world. In the UK alone, more than one in four people sport ink, from intricate full-body art to small, delicate symbols.

But what do these tattoos really say about us? And do others interpret them accurately?

A recent study from Michigan State University delves into how tattoos influence people’s perceptions — and whether those impressions align with reality.

Colorful Ink = Friendly Personality?

According to the research, tattoos do affect how people judge personality traits. Participants viewing others’ tattoos tended to associate bright, cheerful designs—like flowers or animals—with higher agreeableness. In contrast, dark or death-related imagery, such as skulls or weapons, led observers to perceive the tattooed person as less friendly or more emotionally unstable.

“There’s a strong tendency to make personality assumptions based on ink,” said lead researcher William J. Chopik. “But those impressions are often off the mark.”

The Study: Judging Books by Their Covers (and Tattoos)

The study involved 274 tattooed individuals, aged 18 to 70, who completed personality assessments based on the Big Five traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. They also submitted photos of their tattoos and brief explanations of what the designs meant to them.

A separate group of 30 people were then asked to rate the personalities of the tattooed individuals based solely on their ink.

Here’s what the observers assumed:

• Cute, colorful, or symbolic tattoos → More agreeable
• Large or traditional-style tattoos → More extraverted
• High-detail or realistic tattoos → More conscientious
• Small or dark, death-themed tattoos → More neurotic
• Image-heavy tattoos over text-based ones → More open to experience

Perceptions vs Reality: A Mismatch

Despite these clear patterns in judgment, researchers found that most of the assumptions did not align with the tattoo owner’s actual personality.

The only reliable link? People who scored high in openness to experience were slightly more likely to have quirky or unconventional tattoos — described in the study as “wacky.”

“Outside of that, most personality traits couldn’t be accurately guessed just from tattoo content,” Chopik noted.

Tattoos Don’t Tell the Whole Story

The study, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, reinforces the idea that external markers like tattoos shouldn’t be used to define someone’s character. While people may use ink to tell their stories or express creativity, context matters.

A skull tattoo, for example, might signal danger to some — but to the owner, it could simply reflect their love for a rock band or a tribute to a lost loved one.

Bottom Line: Pause Before You Judge

This research sheds light on how visual cues shape our social judgments, even when they’re misleading. Tattoos can be rich in personal meaning, but they’re not a reliable personality test.

So the next time you spot a tattooed stranger, remember: the ink tells a story — but it’s not the whole one.