THE PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF SELF-MUTILATIVE BEHAVIOUR A Comparison of Current and Recovered Self-Mutilators

The tension reduction model of self-mutilation has proposed that behaviours such as self-cutting and burning are effectively tension reducing (Favazza, 1989; Simpson, 1975). This model has indicated that it is these tension reducing qualities of self-mutilation that serve to reinforce the act and establish it as an habitual behaviour. Using a guided imagery methodology, the specific reinforcement processes of self-mutilation have been delineated and the tension reduction pattern that has been reported in the clinical literature, has been empirically verified (Haines, Williams, Brain & Wilson, 1995). In one study, self-mutilating prisoners were interviewed regarding the details of a previous self-mutilative episode. This information was used for the construction of personalised guided imagery scripts. Script information was presented in stages to allow accurate identification of the specific reinforcement processes that the act provides. In the first stage, the environment in which the behaviour occurred and the circumstances, thoughts and feelings prior to self-mutilation were imaged. In the second stage, the approach to the behaviour was described. This included a detailed description of the events, thoughts and feelings leading up to the point of self-mutilation. The incident stage described the actual act of self-injury and the thoughts and feelings that accompanied that behaviour. The final stage of the imagery script detailed the events immediately following self-injury, and the thoughts and feelings experienced at that time. At the incident stage, when the actual act of self-injury was imaged, an immediate and significant reduction in arousal was evident. This was compared with a significant increase in psychophysiological arousal when accidental injury was imaged. Results of this study indicated that the self-mutilative behaviour is reinforced by this reduction in psychophysiological arousal