Comprehensive theoretical models of nonsuicidal self-injury

Résumé

During the past several years, interest in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has grown considerably, thus sparking Increased theorizing and research into the etiological roots of this perplexing yet relatively common behavior. The current chapter provides an overview of the main theoretical explanations for NSSI, with a more detailed description of those with an adequate amount of empirical support. While the majority of the theories (e.g., psychodynamic, interpersonal, affect regulation, cognitive, biological) have received at least some empirical support, the affect regulation and Interpersonaily based theories seem to have the largest amount of empirical grounding. Specifically, research indicates that the majority of people who self-injure do so to relieve unwanted negative feelings, while a large minority also engages in NSSI in order to elicit an interpersonal response. Highlighting the need for a comprehensive model of NSSI, this chapter concludes with the presentation of an integrated theory of the etiology of NSSI, which incorporates various distal and proximal risk factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved) THÉORIE MODÈLE ÉTIOLOGIE APPROCHE-PSYCHODYNAMIQUE SOCIOLOGIE CONTAGION ENVIRONNEMENT APPROCHE-COGNITIVE BIOLOGIE