Self-inflicted injury
valentine thakkar
(Querist) 06 July 2011
This query is : Resolved
Please provide legal definition of the phrase "self-inflicted injury" with citations, if possible.
Ravikant Soni
(Expert) 06 July 2011
Nowhere it is defined. It is matter of evidence. Sometimes accused takes defense plea of self inflicted injury.
Raj Kumar Makkad
(Expert) 06 July 2011
Sometimes called "deliberate self-harm," "self-injury," "self-mutilation," "cutting," or "non-suicidal self-injury", self-injury typically refers to a variety of behaviors in which an individual intentionally inflicts harm to his or her body for purposes not socially recognized or sanctioned and without suicidal intent (Favazza, 1996).
Self-injury can include a variety of behaviors but is most commonly associated with:
· intentional carving or cutting of the skin
· subdermal tissue scratching
· burning
· ripping or pulling skin or hair
· swallowing toxic substances
· self bruising
· breaking bones
Tattoos and body piercing are not typically considered self-injurious unless undertaken with the intention to harm the body.
Although cutting is one of the most common and well documented forms, over 16 forms have been documented in a college population (Whitlock, Eckenrode, & Silverman, 2006). Moreover, several studies have shown that the number of forms used by an individual varies significantly; from 1 to over 10 (Laye-Gindhu & Schonert-Reichl, 2005; Whitlock et al., 2006). Self-injury can be and is performed on any part of the body, but most often occurs on the hands, wrists, stomach and thighs. The severity of the act can vary from superficial wounds to those resulting in lasting disfigurement.
Studies of self-injury characteristics in community populations show considerable variation in the frequency and forms of behaviors reported. For example, reported lifetime frequency varies dramatically – from single incidents to hundreds of incidents (Laye-Gindhu & Sconert-Reichl, 2005; Whitlock, Eckenrode, & Silverman, 2006).
Similarly, although non-clinical samples often endorse a greater number of low-lethality forms than clinical samples (see Skegg, 2005), community studies show that individuals use a myriad of forms which vary dramatically in the capacity to cause tissue damage. Among respondents in a two college study, 1 in 5 self-injurious students indicated that they had hurt themselves more than intended at least once and 1 in 10 indicated that they had hurt themselves so badly that they should have been seen by a medical professional; only 6.5% had ever been treated for any of their wounds (Whitlock, et al., 2006).
