This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Kokaliari, E. Articles by Berzoff, J. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Nonclinical College Women

Lessons From Foucault

Elms College, kokaliarie{at}elms.edu

Joan Berzoff

Smith College, jberzoff{at}smith.edu

This article presents a qualitative study that explored nonsuicidal self-injury among relatively psychologically healthy college women. It examines the phenomenon of self-injury through a social theoretical perspective using Foucault's concepts. Key arguments are that self-injury in women may be a reaction to an insidious form of social control and a reflection of the social pressures for productivity that are enacted on the body. Self-injury may regulate socially unacceptable affects and modify states of the ego so that women can regain their capacity to produce within a competitive and capitalist society. Implications for social work practice are discussed.

Key Words: Foucault • patriarch • self-injury • self-mutilation

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?