Department

Counseling and Human Services

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Date of Award

4-2020

Format

PDF

Degree Level

Ph.D.

LCSH subject

Tattooing; Psychological aspects -- Tattoo removal -- Attitude (Psychology)

ISBN

9798645471644

Medium

Manuscript

Proquest Document ID

2411052125

Identifier

ETD2020Esparza

School/University

St. Mary's University

Size or duration

ix 141 pages

Document Type

Dissertation

First Advisor

Comstock-Benzick, Dana L.

Second Advisor

Wong, Christine D.

Third Advisor

Reyna-Vasquez, Priscilla

Abstract

To date, unique tattoo designs and inks have become a trend (Mao & De Joseph, 2012). Regrettably, trendy tattoos have brought many forms of tattoo adversity. Tattoo adversity can include tattoo regret, tattoo-related health complications, and tattoo artist -tattooed relational betrayal (Birrell & Freyd, 2006). The purpose of this study was to explore the events, circumstances, and experiences that comprise tattoo adversity to such a degree that an individual would seek tattoo removal. The researcher utilized constructivist grounded theory to understand participants’ experiences of tattoo adversity leading to tattoo removal. Interview data illuminated participants’ tattoo regret, pain, and aspirations while undergoing tattoo removal. The findings underlined themes that were used to generate grounded theory on the phenomenon of tattoo adversity resulting in tattoo removal. The grounded theory generated by this study was: Participants in this study experienced a range of tattoo regret that was predominantly related to tattoos attained in their youth. Laser tattoo removal was sought to reduce distress such that participants’ bodies were congruent with their current life experiences. Future studies utilizing larger, diverse samples offering participants multiple ways to share their experiences were recommended.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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