Recently in Self Harm Category

If you have access to Netflix watch Intervention, Season 1, Episode 2. (It's a streaming video option; no disc needed).

There are two people highlighted, Tamela and Jerrie. Tamela is the one you want to watch, but she's is intermixed with Jerrie, so you might as well watch the whole show.

Discuss using examples from this episode, how cutting should or should not be considered violent. Recall that our handbook does not address self violence; this is something that you as a class developed. So how can we use what we know about violence and aggression to understand this self-harming behavior? Does it make sense to have a 'self' category in a violence class? Are there any aspects of the General Aggression Model that pertain to Tamela? What do you think the causes are of her cutting behavior? What do you think her obstacles will be in ceasing this behavior? What resources should she tap into to give her a better chance of success?

WARNING: Tamela's episode is graphic. It shows her cutting. There is blood. If you do not want to watch this OR do not have access to Netflix, then do the assignment below.

ALTERNATE ASSIGNMENT:

Go here: http://eqi.org/cutting1.htm and browse around. Scroll down to get past the index and into the narratives. There is information here and testimonials from cutters.

Discuss using examples from this website, how cutting should or should not be considered violent. Recall that our handbook does not address self violence; this is something that you as a class developed. So how can we use what we know about violence and aggression to understand this self-harming behavior? Does it make sense to have a 'self' category in a violence class? Are there any aspects of the General Aggression Model that pertain to any of the people you read about on this website? Choose one particular person and then answer these questions: What do you think the causes are of her/his cutting behavior? What do you think her/his obstacles will be in ceasing this behavior? What resources should she/he tap into to give her/him a better chance of success?

As we are about to start our readings and discussions on self harm behaviors and how they relate to our conceptualization of violence, I felt inclined to post this current event on people who set themselves on fire as a form of protest.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/18/selfimmolation-protests-i_n_810226.html

"CAIRO -- A 25-year-old unemployed man died in a hospital on Tuesday after setting himself on fire in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, security officials said, amid a wave of self-immolation attempts possibly inspired by events in Tunisia."