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Self-Injurious Behavior

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Assessing and Treating Low Incidence/High Severity Psychological Disorders of Childhood

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Abstract

Emerson first described self-injurious behavior in 1913 when he posited that cutting was a symbolic substitution for masturbation. Since that early reference to the behavior, categorization models, assessment procedures, and treatment modalities have evolved. However, the research in this area is still in its infancy. Given the prevalence among adolescents and the potential deleterious effects, it is essential that study into the etiology, including behavioral function, assessment, and intervention and prevention treatments continues. This chapter reviews the current literature base in self-injurious behavior and suggests avenues for further study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in School Psychology, Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA

    Stefan C. Dombrowski (Professor & Director)

  2. Department of Graduate Education, Leadership and Counseling, Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA

    Karen L. Gischlar

  3. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, 6-135 Education North Bldg., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Martin Mrazik

Authors
  1. Stefan C. Dombrowski
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  2. Karen L. Gischlar
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  3. Martin Mrazik
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Correspondence to Stefan C. Dombrowski .

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Dombrowski, S.C., Gischlar, K.L., Mrazik, M. (2011). Self-Injurious Behavior. In: Assessing and Treating Low Incidence/High Severity Psychological Disorders of Childhood. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9970-2_11

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