Today, the problem of self-destructive behavior is relevant all over the world, including among adolescents. Psychologists are actively studying the nature and causes of this phenomenon, conducting discussions and research. The urgency of the problem lies in the fact that this phenomenon has a negative impact on the intellectual, genetic and professional reserve of society. Therefore, it requires a more detailed study of methods for preventing self-destructive behavior in adolescents and adults. To prevent the occurrence of such a problem among people, in particular adolescents, it is necessary to create long-term programs of psychological support, the purpose of which will be to preserve the mental he alth of a person.
Description and characteristics of the problem
Auto-destructive behavior – is a form of deviant (deviant) behavior aimed at causing harm to one's physical or mental he alth. These are actions of a person that do not correspond to officially established norms insociety.
This phenomenon is widespread in society and is a dangerous phenomenon. It poses a threat to the normal development of man. Today in the world the number of suicides, substance abusers, drug addicts, alcoholics is very large and is growing every year. Therefore, this problem requires an immediate solution.
Forms of pathology
Self-destructive behavior comes in several forms:
- The suicidal form is considered the most dangerous. Many authors have identified several forms of suicidal behavior.
- Eating disorders in the form of anorexia or bulimia develop as a result of individual character traits and their attitude to the opinions of others.
- Additive self-destructive behavior, which is expressed in the occurrence of chemical, economic or informational dependence, for example, alcoholism, stinginess syndrome, and so on.
- A fanatical form characterized by a person's involvement in a cult, sport, or music.
- The victim form is caused by the actions of one person, aimed at inducing another to commit an act that does not meet social norms.
- Extreme activity that poses a threat to he alth and life.
Meet most often all of the above forms of self-destructive behavior in adolescents. According to statistics, this phenomenon poses a threat to stability in society. Suicide rates have increased by 10% over the past ten years, and rates of alcohol and drug abuse among teenagers have also risen.
Causes for the development of pathology
Today, the problem of drug addiction and alcoholism, as well as suicide among young people, is becoming an epidemic all over the world. Therefore, it is important not only to correct these phenomena, but also to develop methods for the prevention of self-destructive behavior at school, higher educational institutions, and social centers.
Teenagers are more likely than others to develop this behavior because of their age. In adolescence, a restructuring of the body and psyche occurs, so a person is characterized by emotional instability, non-standard thinking. A major role is played by a change in the social situation, lack of life experience, the influence of a large number of adverse factors: social, environmental, economic, and so on.
Psychologically
In psychology, the protective reaction of the psyche, which Freud once described, is considered as a factor in self-destructive behavior. This behavior develops as a result of redirecting aggression from an external object to itself.
Some psychologists identify three components that influence the emergence of self-destructive behavior:
- Frustration, which results in an internal conflict aimed at suppressing aggression.
- A traumatic situation.
- Reverse denial, which increases tension, develops a need to resolve internal conflict.
ResearchA. A. Reana
A. A. Rean, a researcher of adolescent behavior, identified four blocks in the structure of self-destructive behavior:
- Character. A person's behavior is largely determined by such features of his character as neuroticism, introversion, pedantry, demonstrativeness.
- Self-esteem. The more self-aggression is manifested, the lower the person's self-esteem.
- Interactivity. Behavior is influenced by the ability to adapt in society, the ability to interact with people.
- Social-perceptual block. Behavior largely depends on the perception of other people.
Psychologists note that auto-destruction does not appear immediately, but is formed for a certain period of time in a latent form. Self-destruction is an abnormal behavior that is characterized by a person's desire for self-destruction. It manifests itself in drug addiction, alcoholism, self-mutilation, suicide.
Alcoholism and drug addiction
One of the forms of self-destruction is the regular use of psychoactive substances - alcohol and drugs, which leads to a disorder of the psyche and consciousness. Regular consumption of such substances leads to self-destructive behavior: drunk driving, the development of drug addiction, impaired interaction with people.
According to statistics, today 200 million people in the world take drugs. Drug addiction contributes to the degradation of personality: mental, intellectual, physical and moral. drugscontribute to the development of dementia, delirium and amnestic syndrome. With the cessation of the use of narcotic drugs, a complete recovery of personality is not observed.
Alcohol contributes to such destructive personality changes that affect cognitive functions, thinking, self-control, memory. After stopping alcohol use, 10% of people do not fully recover from existing disorders.
Non-chemical addictions
Pathological Internet addiction and passion for gambling (gambling) lead to the development of self-destructive behavior. With dependence on the Internet, a person’s motivation and needs change. Especially relevant today is the dependence on computer games, which has a destructive effect on the individual. Usually the virtual world in games is aggressive, destructive and merciless, and the player himself must resist this evil. When a person is in such an environment for a long period of time, the level of anxiety increases, which acts as a factor in destructive behavior. Internet addiction leads to a violation of motivation and needs, will, communication, a change in character, the development of autism.
Gambling addiction is a disorder of control over one's behavior, which leads to the destruction of the personality. A person's needs and motivation, will, self-esteem are violated, irrational beliefs and the so-called illusion of control develop. The consequence of gambling is the development of autism, which often leads toautodestruction.
Correction of auto-destruction
In the prevention and correction of autodestruction, they are allocated for the direction:
- Problem orientation. In this case, a large role is assigned to resolving a difficult situation, a problem.
- Focus on personality. Here they focus on a person's awareness of himself and his behavior.
Thus, in order to correct self-destructive behavior, the thoughts of a social educator should be aimed at restoring a person's psychological he alth. A person with self-destruction must learn to adequately perceive himself and his behavior, control his thoughts, be emotionally stable, freely and naturally show emotions, have adequate self-esteem, and also be purposeful, self-confident.
Particular attention should be paid to the harmony of a person, orientation to his self-development, interest in the world around him.
To eliminate self-destructive behavior, a social educator must eradicate a person's tendency to perceive the world around him through the prism of ingrained negative ideas and opinions, take risks, and also teach him to accept himself and his shortcomings. The main thing is the desire of adults to interact with children.
Prevention of self-destructive behavior
For successful prevention of self-destruction, long-term support programs by psychologists and social educators are needed. They should be aimed at preserving the psychological he alth of children, their development andself-determination, development of the ability to introspection.
Classes with psychologists and social educators will help teenagers with self-destructive behavior adapt to society, build harmonious relationships with themselves and others.
Prevention measures should be aimed at preventing suicide. To do this, you need to study psychotraumatic situations, be able to relieve emotional stress, reduce psychological dependence on the cause of suicidal thoughts, form a compensatory mechanism of behavior and an adequate attitude towards life and people around you.
Prevention should be continuous and include the joint work of parents, psychologists, social workers, doctors, law enforcement agencies and educators.
Prevention program
To achieve the set goals, it is necessary to develop an individual program that includes:
- Support teenager.
- Establishing contact with him.
- Recognition of self-destruction.
- Development of a compensatory mechanism of behavior.
- Establish consent with a teenager.
- Correction of behavior.
- Increasing the level of adaptation in society.
- Trainings.
Only an integrated approach to the problem of self-destructive behavior will help reduce the risk of its development in children and adults.
