title: Some social contexts of self-destructive behavior.
abstract: This study investigated the social context of self-injurious behavior in autistic, schizophrenic, and mentally retarded children residing in a state hospital. Social interactions between subjects and staff were recorded along with subjects' self-destructive behavior. The results showed a substantial increase in self-destructive behavior following the staff's presentation of demands, denials, and punishments in 19 of the 20 subjects. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that self-injurious behavior is a social behavior, which is determined by persons in the environment. In addition, the self-destructive behavior of one subject may have been largely self-stimulatory in nature.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011678:Punishment; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment