NCJ Number
61217
Date Published
1979
Length
200 pages
Annotation
ADOLESCENT SELF-MUTILATION STUDIED AT A CANADIAN TRAINING SCHOOL FOR DELINQUENT GIRLS WAS STOPPED BY THE CONTROVERSIAL SOLUTION OF ALLOWING THE GIRLS TO HELP RUN THE TREATMENT PROGRAM.
Abstract
CASE HISTORIES INDICATE THE KIND OF SELF-MUTILATION FOUND IN THE TRAINING SCHOOL. THE GIRLS WERE PERSISTENT AND INGENIOUS IN THE KINDS OF SELF-MUTILATION THEY PRACTICED, INCLUDING BITING, BURNING, CARVING, INSERTING, AND SEVERING, ALL OF WHICH ARE ADEQUATELY DESCRIBED. MANY THEORIES ARE ADVANCED TO EXPLAIN SUCH BEHAVIOR (DEATH WISH, ATTENTION SEEKING, SEX, PLEA FOR HELP, LACK OF SELF-ESTEEM, AND REGRESSION, AMONG OTHERS. THE EXPLANATIONS FORM NO COHERENT THEORY, AND AT TIMES CORRELATIONS HAVE BEEN OFFERED WITHOUT SUFFICIENT DATA. INSTITUTIONS ARE RELUCTANT TO ALLOW RESEARCH OR EVEN TO PUBLICLY ADMIT THAT SELF-MUTILATION DOES OCCUR WITHIN THEIR WALLS. THE GIRLS' BEHAVIOR WAS NOT STOPPED BY CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT METHODS SUCH AS COUNSELING, PUNISHMENT, EDUCATION OR ISOLATION, BUT BY AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT PROGRAM THAT MADE THE GIRLS A PART OF THE PROGRAM (COOPTING) AND GIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY AND AUTHOR AND SUBJECT INDEXES COMPLETE THE BOOK. (RFC)