Start here · Essential guide
The Art of Self-Expression: Exploring the World of Body Modification
A plain-language survey of the main kinds of body modification, from tattoos and piercings to implants and cosmetic procedures, and what each can mean.
Mind and Self
Self-Expression Studies
Broader looks at modification, transformation and personal growth.
The Art of Branding: The Rise of Body Modification as a Form of Self-Expression
Why body modification has become more visible over recent decades, and how fashion, celebrity, television and online media helped shape that change.
The Art of Self-Expression: A Study of Body Modification
How researchers usually study body modification, including surveys, interviews and comparisons, and what such studies can and cannot tell us.
The Art of Self-Expression: How Body Modification Can Enhance Personal Growth
Everyday examples of reflection and maturity that people link to long-term body modification, with a balanced look at what is and is not known.
The Art of Self-Expression: How Body Modification Can Enhance Personal Growth and Development
How attitudes toward tattoos, piercings and other modification tend to shift from young adulthood through midlife and later years.
The Art of Self-Transformation: A Study of Body Modification
Why transformation is such a common theme when people describe a changed body, and how the language of change differs across practices and people.
The Art of Self-Transformation: A Study of Body Modification and Personal Growth
Where stories of bodily transformation overlap with claims about personal growth, and why the evidence connecting the two is often thin or hard to interpret.
Related topics
More in mind and self
Psychology How modification and the mind relate. Mental Health What is and is not known about modification and mental health. Identity How bodies, selves and identity connect. Growth and Acceptance Self-esteem, acceptance, relationships and personal growth. Spirituality Faith, meaning and spiritual practice in relation to body modification. Self-Care and Growth Self-care, mindfulness and readiness before and after modification. Body Image Journeys From dislike of the body toward acceptance and self-worth. Empowerment and Liberation Ideas of empowerment, freedom and positivity linked to the body. Pain and Healing Pain, pride, scars and healing in personal stories of modification. Shame to Pride Moving from shame and self-doubt toward confidence and self-knowledge. Mind-Body Links How changing the body relates to mood, wellbeing and a sense of self. Tattoo Meaning What tattoos can mean for identity, beliefs and emotional healing. Self-Discovery Paths How people describe modification as a route to understanding themselves. Claimed Health Benefits Mental and physical wellbeing claims, weighed against the risks. Transformation Stories Confidence, empowerment and personal change through body art. Relationships and Communication How modification affects partners, friends and everyday interactions. Self-Image and Wellbeing Effects on body image, self-esteem and mental health. Personal Change Journeys Modification as part of identity, growth and self-discovery. Motivations Explained Why people choose to change their bodies, from curiosity to risk and pain. Body Image and Beauty How beauty ideals, body image and self-esteem connect to modification. Identity and Self-Concept How modification relates to identity, self-concept and personal meaning. Spiritual Dimensions Spiritual, ritual and contemplative angles on body modification. Meaning and Empowerment Claims about empowerment, commitment and community, treated with balance. Why We Get Marked Psychology of tattoos, piercings and scars. Mental Health Studies Careful looks at modification, mood, trauma and self-esteem. Shaping Identity How body choices relate to personal and social identity. Self-Transformation Science How researchers and writers explain the link between changing the body and the sense of self. Mind and Body Impact Mental health and brain-level ideas about what modification does to us. Healing and Therapy Claims and cautions about modification as a path to recovery.