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NCJRS Abstract

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NCJ Number:	61217

Title:	SELF-MUTILATION

Author(s):	R R ROSS; H B MACKAY

Corporate Author:	Lexington Books United States of America

Date Published:	1979

Page Count:	200

Sponsoring Agency:	Lexington Books New York, NY 10022

Sale Source:	Lexington Books 866 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 United States of America

Language:	English

Country:	United States of America

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)

Index Term(s):	Canada; Female juvenile delinquents; Juvenile treatment methods; Self mutilation



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