Earlobe piercing has long been accepted as the norm. Others are no longer even frightened or surprised by colored hair, tattoos, piercings. Although there are people who amaze with their appearance: aesthetic operations to reshape the ears, remove body parts, implant objects under the skin. All these are body modifications – a change in appearance, body.
What is body modification
Body modifications are changes in the appearance or functionality of the body. Popular forms of modifications:
- scarring – special application of cuts in the form of a pattern;
- implants;
- tunnels – large holes in the earlobe or other part of the body;
- microdermal – a piercing implanted under the skin with a removable decoration;
- elven ears – an operation to reshape the ears;
- tattoos;
- cut of the tongue;
- eyeball tattoo;
- branding;
- tattooing.
In fact, all cosmetic surgeries, beauty injections for lips and face, breast implantation can also be attributed to body modifications. Although the first thing this word is associated with is tattoos, piercings. And the first image that pops up in memory is the image of an informal. But in fact, even female tattooing is a form of modification. And its reasons are the influence of social stereotypes, self-doubt, fashion, envy, the pursuit of beauty.
While we’re on the subject of reasons, let’s take a closer look at them.
Psychological causes of body modifications
People change their appearance for a variety of reasons:
- creative self-expression as an integral part of a creative personality;
- provocation and protest addressed to the family or society;
- attracting attention as a result of an unmet need for love;
- autoaggression as a form of deviant behavior;
- self-rejection, mental disorders;
- a conscious increase in the pain threshold, training of willpower, testing oneself for strength;
- search for thrills, something new;
- the need for involvement in the subculture of body modification;
- pursuit of fashion and beauty standards.
As you can see, there are many reasons. How do you know for sure what makes a person change himself? First, look at the amount of work done and the desired changes. If it is a small tattoo or a piercing of the nose, then, most likely, the person just has his own vision of beauty. This is an accessory, a print, only not on clothes, but on the skin. Or the second option: the individual obeys fashion.
By the way, this is a separate reason that is popular in our time. Someone wants to be in trend, and someone wants to make money on their appearance. Shocking changes in appearance “with a bang” are perceived by the Internet community. You can make good money on the image of an informal person, including officially becoming an informal model.
This idea attracts young people, but few people achieve success, but body modifications remain for life. There are opposite situations: a person wanted to change the body for the sake of his own comfort, but unwittingly gained popularity.
And I do not even know who needs more psychological help: those who blindly follow fashion and are ready to do anything for the sake of fame, or those who do not perceive their own body, trying to make themselves an alien, a person of the third sex, a lizard and the like.
Psychological characteristics of the personality of the body modifier
Neuropsychologist T.G. Goryacheva in the course of the study revealed several psychological characteristics of people who modify themselves:
- rejection of appearance, body;
- unclear idea of your own body;
- dissatisfaction with their capabilities;
- the desire to correspond to an ideal, usually inflated or unrealistic self-image;
- high level of claims;
- low and unstable self-esteem;
- sensitivity to mistakes, failure, fear of failure;
- a contradictory combination of demonstrative independence and inner attachment to some people;
- low level of empathy, difficulties in communication;
- underdeveloped ability to adapt;
- alexithymia, which finds a way out in the non-verbal expression of emotions and feelings through the transformation of the body, appearance.
A person is aware of these features, in connection with which a general negative background of the personality’s self-attitude is formed. Such people suffer from anxiety and depression.
There is a scientific opinion that body modification is a specific form of communication. This is the language in which a person conveys those feelings, emotions and states that he cannot describe, express directly.
The described features are not relevant for those who are chasing fashion. This is a portrait of a person for whom transformation is a form of self-expression and a means of seeking harmony.
Body modifications as protection from society
In my opinion, body modification becomes a problem if a person completely changes his appearance: he covers most of his body with tattoos, including his face, fills his eyes with paint, implants implants.
I admit that among such people there are creative personalities with a special vision of the world. But I am more inclined to believe that this is the peak of self-rejection, withdrawal from the real world, protection from society:
- Someone deliberately makes a monster out of themselves, so that they are afraid in absentia and do not try to offend.
- Someone lingered in childhood and mired in a fantastic reality.
- Someone suffers from body dysmorphic disorder.
From the point of view of psychosomatics, the skin is the border between the inner world of a person and the outer world. If a person does not feel safe, considers himself vulnerable, then he covers his skin with a second layer of protection – modification.
People who have completely changed their appearance are united by inner pain. Moreover, it does not matter who we mean: a girl who remade her nose, lips, chest on the surgeon’s table, or an informal who turned himself into a monster.
These people suffer from complexes, problems in relationships with society. They are tormented by trauma and memories of the past. Some modification enthusiasts are drawn to the pain itself. But what does the need for pain mean from the point of view of psychology? This is the result of chronic feelings of guilt. Where did it come from? From a difficult childhood: demanding, strict, condemning parents.
It is good if operations, tattoos, jewelry help a person feel complete, do not interfere with work, building a personal life. But if such behavior spoils life even more, completely isolates a person from society, then this is a problem that requires working with a psychotherapist.
