Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects01:29

Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects

460
Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...
460
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping02:05

Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping

45.2K
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...
45.2K
Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

19.1K
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.  
19.1K
Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model01:29

Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model

401
The Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) model offers a psychological framework to understand how individuals’ self-esteem is influenced by the achievements of others, particularly those with whom they share close personal bonds. The SEM model operates when personal rather than social identity guides individuals. Central to this model is the notion that individuals have an inherent desire to preserve a favorable self-image, which is continuously shaped by interpersonal comparisons and...
401
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification03:00

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

5.9K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.9K
Benefits of Self-Esteem01:25

Benefits of Self-Esteem

273
Self-esteem—an individual's overall evaluation of their worth—plays a complex role in psychological functioning and well-being. It is often associated with many positive traits, such as confidence, optimism, and perseverance. Individuals with high self-esteem typically experience better sleep, manage peer pressure more effectively, and report greater life satisfaction. Conversely, low self-esteem has been consistently linked with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and poor...
273

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Environmental Risk Factors for Railway Suicide: A Nationwide Analysis of England's Mainline Network (2019-2021).

Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research·2025
Same author

Corrigendum to "Characteristics and circumstances of rail suicides in England 2019-2021: a cluster analysis and autopsy study" [J. Affect. Disord. 354, 397-407. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.020].

Journal of affective disorders·2025
Same author

Characteristics and circumstances of rail suicides in England 2019-2021: A cluster analysis and autopsy study.

Journal of affective disorders·2024
Same author

Factors prompting and deterring suicides on the roads.

BJPsych open·2023
Same author

Police-led real-time surveillance system for suspected suicides in Great Britain.

BMJ mental health·2023
Same author

"<i>My Heart and My Brain Is What's Bleeding, These Are Just Cuts</i>." An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Young Women's Experiences of Self-Harm.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2022
Same journal

Eight-Week Minimal Dose Training Reduces Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms but Does Not Influence Coping Strategies: A Nonrandomized Study.

Scandinavian journal of psychology·2026
Same journal

A Randomized Controlled Trial of an iCBT Program to Reduce Infertility-Related Stress: A Novel Digital Approach.

Scandinavian journal of psychology·2026
Same journal

Exploring Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse and Mobile Phone Dependence in Left- and Non-Left-Behind Adolescents: Roles of Self-Esteem, Social Anxiety, and Loneliness.

Scandinavian journal of psychology·2026
Same journal

Swedish SDQ Norms for Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Preschoolers.

Scandinavian journal of psychology·2026
Same journal

Exploring Toxic Positivity, Shame, Emotional Exhaustion, and Job Withdrawal Intentions in the Workplace.

Scandinavian journal of psychology·2026
Same journal

Cognitive Testing Practices for Basic Military Training in the Nordic Countries: A Scoping Review.

Scandinavian journal of psychology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
09:55

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

13.3K

The relationship between self-harm and alexithymia.

Hilary Norman1, Jo Borrill1

  • 1University of Westminster, London, UK.

Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
|May 27, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Alexithymia, difficulty identifying emotions, is linked to increased self-harm, especially in women. This connection is mediated by factors like childhood abuse and depression, highlighting emotional processing deficits as a risk factor.

Keywords:
Alexithymianon suicidal self-injury (NSSI)self-harm

More Related Videos

Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
12:55

Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties

Published on: September 27, 2020

9.3K
Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency
08:01

Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency

Published on: October 28, 2020

6.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
09:55

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

13.3K
Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
12:55

Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties

Published on: September 27, 2020

9.3K
Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency
08:01

Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency

Published on: October 28, 2020

6.1K

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Mental Health

Background:

  • Alexithymia is characterized by difficulties in identifying, describing, and processing emotions.
  • Self-harm is a significant public health concern with complex underlying factors.
  • Understanding the interplay between emotional processing and self-injurious behavior is crucial for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the existing literature on the relationship between alexithymia and self-harm.
  • To investigate potential mediating factors in this relationship, such as childhood abuse, bullying, and depression.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted across relevant academic databases.
  • Fifteen studies meeting predefined inclusion criteria were selected for the review.
  • Data were synthesized to identify patterns and associations between alexithymia and self-harm.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher levels of alexithymia were observed in women who self-harm compared to controls.
  • The association between childhood abuse/bullying and self-harm was stronger when alexithymia was present.
  • Depression was identified as a mediator between alexithymia and self-harm in some studies.
  • Findings for men were less conclusive, indicating a need for further research.

Conclusions:

  • Poor emotional cognition and expression, characteristic of alexithymia, may increase vulnerability to self-harm, particularly in women.
  • Alexithymia may act as a vulnerability factor, with other experiences like abuse or depression exacerbating the risk.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the role of alexithymia in self-harm among men.