Do some people self-harm just to get attention?

Learn about: Do some people self-harm just to get attention? from Wendy Lader, PhD,...
Do some people self-harm just to get attention? | Kids in the House
KidsInTheHouse the Ultimate Parenting Resource
Kids in the House Tour

Do some people self-harm just to get attention?

Comment
122
Like
122
Transcription: 
A lot of people believe that people self injure just, it's for other people, to get their attention. Research does show that that is not the main reason that people injure. The main people that people injure is called intrapsychic. It's for themselves to feel better. Now there can be a secondary part of it is which is to let people know that they're struggling, that they need help. So when we say just needing attention, I think we have to take that just out. Because if kids need attention that desperately, we need to give it to them. But it's not just giving them attention, it's really helping them to understand why they're engaging in this behavior and what's behind it.

Learn about: Do some people self-harm just to get attention? from Wendy Lader, PhD,...

Transcript

Expert Bio

More from Expert

Wendy Lader, PhD

Psychologist

Dr. Lader is co-founder and clinical director of the S.A.F.E. (Self Abuse Finally Ends) Alternatives Program. An internationally recognized expert on the treatment of self-injury, she lectures extensively on the subject and is co-author of the book, Bodily Harm: The Breakthrough Healing Program for Self-Injurers as well as Self Injury: A Manual for School Professionals. In addition, she served as the expert for a training video on Self-Injury for the American Psychological Association. Dr. Lader is co- founder of the Self-Injury Foundation and a founding member of the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury. 

More Parenting Videos from Wendy Lader, PhD >
Enter your email to
download & subscribe
to our newsletter