Self‐Injurious Behaviour: Characteristics, Aetiology, and Treatment

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a brief review of the prevalence and characteristics of self‐injurious behaviour (SIB), aetiological hypotheses and treatment methods which have met with some success as a basis for understanding why attempts to correct SIB using traditional methods based on learning theory have sometimes been unsuccessful. To increase understanding of SIB and as a guide to treatment, a new hypothesis based on the concept of multiple control is presented. The tendency to conceptualize SIBs as a homogeneous category, perhaps because of the similarity of their effects, their relative concentration in special populations, or because of support for a particular theoretical position, has operated to limit success in treating SIB and, as a consequence, the integration of this population into more normalized settings.