Why do teenagers and college students get tattoos?

I'm trying to figure out if there is a phycological reason, if the tattoos are accociated with other risky behaviors like drinking, sex, and drug use. if they get them to enhance their appearance then that is a phycological reason, so is if they do it to fit in. im seeing if their is any other reason that could not be a phycological reason. if there isn't, then what are these phycological reasons?

People have been tatooing themselves for thousands of years, be it permanent or temporary. To be frank, every reason to do anything is psycological. I doubt that there is any real connection between all teenage tatoos with "risky behavior."

its just like, if they see someone with a cool tattoo, they like it and they want to get it.

I'm about to get my first and I don't drink or do any of the "party" things. I'm getting mine because I have a fondness for old symbols (I'm getting an ancient Rgyptian hieroglyph for protection).

Many different reasons I guess. I know one guy that got one when he turned 18. It was a logo of his favorite band, it has been his favorite for years and still is. I think he did it b/c he could do it. But heck that is all he did for his 18th birthday.

When teenagers get tattoos it is often because they want to attract the opposite sex. Girls like "bad boys" and vice versa. Another reason teens get tattoos is to express themselves. Teens often feel like they are not cared about and a tattoo is a way to express themselves.

i know someone who get tattoos for a certain reasons, remember something special and important things in life , he got the wife's name n 2 kids' name

I think it's because they think they're cool, cute, or whatever...

I'm a college student about to get a tattoo - but its not for anyone other than myself. i'm getting it in a hard to see spot and in white ink - the point for me isn't to be cool. its just a symbol for things i've promised myself.