A large (N = 1375; 873 women, 502 men) sample of college students completed measures of demograph-
ics, body modification (i.e., tattoos and body piercings), and measures of the Big Five personality traits,
social desirability, and need for uniqueness. Tattooed participants, as compared to their non-tattooed
counterparts, scored significantly lower on agreeableness and conscientiousness and significantly higher
on need for uniqueness. Body pierced participants, as compared to their non-pierced counterparts, scored
significantly lower on conscientiousness and significantly higher on openness to experience. Although
statistically significant, these relationships explain very small amounts of variance and most likely reflect
inconsequential real world differences between those with and without these two forms of body modi-
fication. Our findings suggest caution when attributing psychopathology to adults who possess tattoos
and/or body piercings.