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Related Experiment Video

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Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation

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Investigating self-concept in self-harm: A repertory grid study.

Peter J Taylor¹, Sunny Usher¹, Khowla Jomar²

¹Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, UK.

Psychology and Psychotherapy

|February 4, 2020

Summary

Self-perception is linked to self-harm behaviors. A repertory grid method revealed that greater differences between current and ideal self correlate with self-harm, offering insights into self-concept and recovery.

Keywords:

repertory grid self-concept self-harm self-perception well-being

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Self-Concept Research

Background:

Understanding self-harm requires insight into self-perception.
Repertory grids offer a method to explore self-concept, though underutilized in self-harm research.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between self-concept, assessed via repertory grids, and self-harm.
To explore how self-perception relates to well-being and perceived recovery in individuals who self-harm.

Main Methods:

Ninety-eight participants with a history of self-harm completed a repertory grid.
Derived distances between 'current self,' 'ideal self,' 'self-harming self,' and 'others who self-harm' elements.
Correlated repertory grid distances with measures of self-harm, well-being, and recovery.

Main Results:

Repertory grid distances significantly correlated with self-harm behaviors.
Increased distance between current and ideal self, and decreased distance between current self and others who self-harm, were associated with past-year self-harm.
These self-perception metrics also related to participants' well-being and perceived recovery.

Conclusions:

Self-perception is demonstrably associated with self-harm and related psychological difficulties.
Repertory grids show potential as a valuable tool for assessing self-concept in individuals who self-harm.
The study highlights the utility of repertory grids for idiographic assessment in clinical practice, though directionality requires further investigation.