The Role of the Body Experience in Self-Destruction

Abstract

This paper focuses on the role of the body experience in self-destructive behavior. It is postulated that early caretaking processes have a powerful role in the development of self-destruction through the formation of alterations in the experience of the body and negative attitudes toward the body. The hypothesis that emerges from the literature review is that the internalization of early negative caretaking processes and negative attachment may lead to a distorted experience of the body, as well as to a basic negative attitude and feelings toward one's body. Such body experience and attitudes are believed to interact with anguish, hopelessness and mounting stress and culminate in self-destruction. Some of the destructive processes intervening between distorted caretaking, experiences of and attitudes toward the body include: lack of moderating self-directed aggression, lack of attunement to bodily needs, lack of representational learning to care for the body, symbolized hate toward the body, distorted perception of pain and pleasure, and dissociation. It is suggested that the role of the body in suicide may evolve into a most important avenue for future research in suicide.