NCJ Number
65227
Date Published
1979
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHILD ABUSE AND LATER SELF-MUTILATION WAS EXAMINED BY STUDYING CASE HISTORIES OF 170 ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN AN ONTARIO, CANADA, TRAINING SCHOOL.
Abstract
SELF-CUTTING (CARVING) WAS A PERENNIAL PROBLEM AT THE SCHOOL. THE STUDY POPULATION CONSISTED OF 24 NONCARVERS, 26 SINGLE CARVERS, AND 70 GIRLS WHO HAD CARVED MORE THAN ONCE. SUBJECTS' CASE HISTORIES WERE EXAMINED FOR EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAD BEEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN EARLIER YEARS. DATA CAME FROM PROBATION OFFICERS' REPORTS, CHILDRENS' AID SOCIETY CASE HISTORIES, AND PSYCHIATRIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL WORK REPORTS. RESULTS SHOWED THAT 48 PERCENT OF THE MULTICARVER GROUP HAD BEEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE BY PARENTS OR PARENT SURROGATES BEFORE THEIR 12TH BIRTHDAYS, COMPARED TO 2 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO HAD NEVER CARVED. FINDINGS SUPPORTED THE POSSIBILITY OF A LINK BETWEEN CHILD ABUSE AND SELF-MUTILATION. EVIDENCE MUST BE VIEWED CAUTIOUSLY, HOWEVER. ABUSE WAS DEFINED NOT AS A SPANKING AS A MEANS OF DISCIPLINE BUT AS A SEVERE BEATING, WITH OR WITHOUT PROVOCATION. THE STUDY THEREFORE EXCLUDED MANY INCIDENTS WHICH MIGHT BE CONSIDERED ABUSIVE BY OTHER DEFINITIONS. MOREOVER, REPORTED ABUSE INCIDENTS WERE NOT AUTHENTICATED. HOWEVER, RESULTS ARE VALUABLE WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER FINDINGS WHICH ALSO SHOW A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ABUSE AND SELF-MUTLILATION. RECENT RESEARCH HAS DEMONSTRATED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CHILD ABUSE AND SPOUSE ABUSE, HOMICIDE, AND SUICIDE. EXPLANATIONS FOR SELF-MUTILATION WHICH HAVE LED TO SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION APPROACHES INCLUDE SOCIAL LEARNING, AVOIDANCE CONDITIONING, INSENSITIVITY TO PAIN, AND NEUTRALIZING PARENT ABUSE. PERSISTENT SELF-DEFEATING BEHAVIOR MAY BE CAUSED BY ABUSIVE PARENTS' FAILURES TO PROMOTE ACQUISITION OF APPROPRIATE AND ADAPTABLE AVOIDANCE RESPONSES. RESEARCH ON CHILD ABUSE HAS VIRTUALLY IGNORED THE LINK BETWEEN PARENTAL ABUSE AND SELF-INJURIOUS BEHAVIOR. FURTHER SUCH RESEARCH IS NEEDED. FOOTNOTES AND A REFERENCE LIST ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)