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 judgements can be.

This study, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, is the first to look at people’s judgements of specific tattoos.

“We found that people did tend to rate the personalities of tattooed people consistently. So, when people saw a tattoo, they tended to think at least similarly in what they assumed the person was like,” said William Chopik, co-author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Psychology. “However, the accuracy of these assumptions does not align with reality for most traits.”

For the study, researchers took photos of people’s tattoos and asked them to complete personality measurements. A second group then rated the personality of each person based only on the photo of the tattoo.

The researchers coded tattoos across 18 distinct dimensions—such as size, color, and content—yet most characteristics did not correlate with any findings. However, one notable pattern emerged: individuals with quirky or wacky tattoos were accurately perceived as open to new experiences. More specifically, they were judged to be open-minded, seek out new experiences, and have an appreciation for abstract and artistic endeavors.

“We were surprised to see that people accurately judged someone’s openness based only on seeing a photo of a tattoo,” said coauthor and research associate Brooke Soulliere. “When people see a wacky or goofy tattoo, they assume that person is open to experience. And... they’re correct about it.”

This study is a step towards unpacking the complexities of how social perceptions are formed. The study suggests that tattoos are strongly driving these perceptions, even if those perceptions aren’t accurate. Given that tattoos are becoming more common and accepted, further research is needed to explore how changing cultures and norms impact personality judgements.