Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Psychological Disorders

Introduction to Psychological Disorders

Abnormal behavior, often referred to as mental illness, results from changes in brain function that influence thought patterns, behaviors, and social interactions. Psychologists and psychiatrists typically assess abnormal behavior using three primary criteria: deviance, maladaptation, and personal distress, particularly when these traits persist over long periods.
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...

Self-Discrepancy Theory

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder is a complex and multifaceted mental health condition characterized by pervasive instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions, and impulse control. This instability manifests in extreme emotional reactions, fear of abandonment, and self-destructive behaviors. The disorder significantly impacts daily functioning, often leading to distress in both personal and professional domains.
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...

Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping

Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping

People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you...

Self-Help Support Groups

Self-Help Support Groups

Self-help support groups are voluntary, community-based organizations that provide a platform for individuals with shared concerns to exchange support, insights, and practical strategies for coping with life challenges. Typically led by group members or paraprofessionals, these groups form a cornerstone of mental health care, especially in reaching populations that are underserved by traditional healthcare systems.
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...

Aggression

Aggression

Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for hire...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Effectiveness of a one-year smoking cessation intervention for people with severe mental illness: results of the KISMET cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Psychological medicine·2026

Same author

Background pain, procedural pain and optimism are associated with pain post-discharge in burn survivors: A prospective cohort study.

Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries·2025

Same author

Clearing the smoke: experiences of patients and professionals during a one-year smoking cessation intervention in ambulatory mental healthcare - a qualitative study.

Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy·2025

Same author

Implementation of a smoking cessation intervention for people with severe mental illness in ambulatory mental healthcare (KISMET): A process evaluation.

PloS one·2025

Same author

Empathy and Mentalizing of Mental Health Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study.

International journal of mental health nursing·2025

Same author

Cost-effectiveness of the SMILE intervention compared with usual care for people with severe mental illness: A randomized clinical trial.

PloS one·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice

Published on: September 20, 2024

[Self-harming behaviour].

Nienke Kool¹, Wim Pollen, Berno van Meijel

¹Palier, Centrum Intensieve Behandeling, Den Haag, The Netherlands. n.kool@palier.nl

Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde

|May 12, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Self-harm is a complex coping mechanism for unbearable emotions, often indicating deeper psychological issues. Understanding and professional caregiver responses are crucial for effective treatment and patient well-being.

More Related Videos

Marble Burying and Nestlet Shredding as Tests of Repetitive, Compulsive-like Behaviors in Mice

Marble Burying and Nestlet Shredding as Tests of Repetitive, Compulsive-like Behaviors in Mice

Published on: December 24, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice

Published on: September 20, 2024

Marble Burying and Nestlet Shredding as Tests of Repetitive, Compulsive-like Behaviors in Mice

Marble Burying and Nestlet Shredding as Tests of Repetitive, Compulsive-like Behaviors in Mice

Published on: December 24, 2013

Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Psychology

Background:

Self-harm is a complex behavior often stemming from underlying psychological distress.
It serves as a coping mechanism for individuals experiencing overwhelming emotions.

Observation:

Case studies of two female patients highlight the challenges in understanding and treating self-harm.
One patient refused wound treatment, while another was referred for mental health care, illustrating varied responses.

Findings:

Self-harm frequently symbolizes deeper emotional struggles and serves multiple psychological functions.
Patients often use self-harm to manage intense emotions when other coping strategies are unavailable.

Implications:

Caregiver emotional responses to self-harm can influence patient care attitudes.
Professional awareness and management of caregiver feelings are vital.
Respectful, non-judgmental treatment and attention to suffering are essential for individuals who self-harm.