In this first episode of Thinking Psychologically, we explore tattoos through a psychological lens, considering the various functions they may serve in our psychological lives.

Along the way, the discussion touches on:

• Permanence, impermanence, and existential questions of mortality
• Belonging, conformity, and the human need for connection
• Transgression, individuation, and becoming more fully oneself
• Trauma, bodily autonomy, and reclaiming the body
• Carl Jung, symbolism, and the unconscious

The episode does not attempt to explain what any particular tattoo means. Instead, it asks a broader question:

Is a tattoo ever just a tattoo?

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Music credit

Music used in this episode is drawn from the royalty-free work of PaulYudin. Many thanks for making this music freely available for creators.