Evidence of negative implicit attitudes toward individuals with a tattoo near the face. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zestcott, Colin A.; Bean, Meghan G.; Stone, Jeff
• Is Part Of: Group processes and intergroup relations. Volume 20:Number 2(2017:Mar.)
• Page Start: 186
• Page End: 201
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: attitude -- implicit -- symmetry -- tattoo; Intergroup relations -- Periodicals; Social groups -- Periodicals; 302.305
• DOI: 10.1177/1368430215603459
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-4302

Abstract

Three studies examined if people express negative implicit attitudes toward individuals with a tattoo near the face. In Study 1, participants who completed an Implicit Association Test (IAT) expressed moderately negative implicit attitudes toward individuals with a tribal tattoo on one side of the neck. Study 2 replicated Study 1 when the tattoo was symmetrical, suggesting that negative affect, and not processing fluency, underlies the implicit negative evaluation of individuals with a tribal tattoo near the face. Study 3 showed dissociation between explicit and implicit attitudes toward individuals with a tribal tattoo near the face, and that the negative implicit evaluation was attenuated if the tattoo image was an objectively positive symbol. The implications for displaying a tattoo near the face are discussed.