Comparison of Behavioral Cerebral Systems and Locus of Control between Addicted People with and Without Tattoo

Background: Tattoos or stencils on the body have always a special charm for people from different cultures. The fact that such stencils are considered attracting and essential to some people from a specific culture while other people from that culture do not consider them essential has led to this argument that there are certain factors that make tattoos appealing to some people. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine and compare behavioral activation/inhibition brain systems (BAS/BIS) and internal and external loci of control between substance-dependent people with and without tattoo. Materials and Methods: The study consisted substance-dependent people referring to rehabilitation center (Baharan hospital of psychiatric) in Zahedan. Of this population, 146 people (73 with tattoo and 73 without tattoo) were selected by convenience sampling. Data gathering was conducted by the short form of the Gray–Wilson Personality Questionnaire and the Rotter s Locus of Control Scale, and data analysis by independent t-test and chi-square. Results: Regarding BIS, there was significant difference between people with and without tattoo (and extinction subscale). Regarding the two remaining systems, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. There was no significant difference in locus of control between the two groups as well.Conclusion: BAS is associated with positive emotions and BIS with negative emotions, and both BAS and BIS are activated by internal and external stimuli. Given the results, the conditions of substance-dependent people with and without tattoo in this regard are different. Differences in this system can be explained by brain responses to different types of psychosocial pathology and associated preventive approaches. Nowadays, tattoos have a special status as one of the functions of globalization among all people of the community. Substance-dependent people s attitudes toward tattoos are slightly different from other people. The types of stencils that substance-dependent people select are also different from those selected by other people of the community.