The Psychologist with the Dragon Tattoo: The Effect of Gender on Perceptions of Tattooed Mental Health Professionals

Stigma towards tattooed individuals has resulted in questioning the competency of workers with tattoos. Previous research has indicated that tattooed therapists are not viewed differently compared to their non-tattooed counterparts. However, prior research examining differences in the perception of tattooed individuals did not consider the effect of gender on the presence of tattoo stigma. The present study is an experimental design that seeks to investigate the effect gender has on the presence of negative tattoo stigma. Participants (n = 114) were asked to rate their perceived competence of a clinical psychologist, their feelings toward the psychologist shown in their profile, and their attitude toward gender balance. Results indicated that there were no main effects of gender and tattoo presence on the participants' perceptions of a mental health care provider. There were also no significant interactions between the gender of a psychologist and the presence of tattoo stigma. This may suggest that people are becoming more accepting of body modifications as well as different genders in professional occupations, which is contrary to prior research.