Self-mutilators' psychophysiological and subjective responses during an imaged self-mutilative act were examined. Differences in arousal to 3 imaged control events (neutral, accidental injury, and aggression) were examined between 3 self-mutilation groups (prisoner, prisoner control, and non-prison control). Imagery scripts were presented in 4 stages: scene setting, approach, incident, and consequence. Results indicated a decrease in psychophysiological and subjective response during self-mutilation imagery. No such decrease was evident for nonmutilators who we administered standard self-mutilation imagery. A lag between psychophysiological and psychological response to the self-mutilative act was evident. Responses elicited during self-mutilation imagery were different from those of control imagery. Results indicated that self-mutilative behavior is maintained by its reinforcing tension-reducing qualities.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Psychology
Research Group:	Clinical and health psychology
Research Field:	Health psychology
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Other health
Objective Field:	Other health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Haines, J (Dr Janet Haines)
UTAS Author:	Williams, CL (Dr Christopher Williams)
UTAS Author:	Brain, KL (Ms Brain)
UTAS Author:	Wilson, GV (Dr George Wilson)
ID Code:	4521
Year Published:	1995
Web of Science® Times Cited:	161
Deposited By:	Psychology
Deposited On:	1995-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-08-24
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