Table of contents:

1. Where does aggressive behaviour come from?
2. Self-aggression?
3. Me and my body
4. Self-harm
5. Self-harm occurs...
6. Hidden self-aggression

Where does aggressive behaviour come from?

Self-aggressivebehaviour is inherent in all of us and originates from ancient cultures. One of the origins lies in Christian culture; self-aggressive behaviour was intended to serve repentance, reconciliation, the washing away of guilt, the freeing of the soul from desires and carnal needs. We have ample evidence of stigmatics, martyrs who scourged their exposed bodies. In other religions, such as Islam, through mortification one attains union with God. The Indians, in ritual dances, mutilated their skin, drove wooden pegs into their bodies, circumcised girls, depriving them of sexual pleasure.

Self-aggression?

Today, the meaning of self-aggression is changing. It is becoming "beautification", because "whoever wants to be beautiful must suffer". All female dieting, starving oneself, 'bodybuilding' originate from this cause. An interesting example of suffering for the sake of beauty is the bandaging of feet in eastern cultures, so that the foot is as small as possible.

Of great importance here are all plastic surgery and braces, where putting brackets on the teeth is understandable for the orthodontist, but very taxing on the body. Another example is women's plastic surgery: removal of 'bags' from under the eyes, facelift, liposuction.

The ideal is a body that is free of flaws, scars, young, never ageing. Women most often opt for plastic surgery during puberty or the menopause. Very often, low self-esteem and a distorted image of femininity are behind their action. Sadness, a state of depression and a sense of confusion are also behind the decision to have plastic surgery. Unconscious masochistic tendencies and feelings of guilt are also not insignificant. The aim of plastic surgery is to bring peace of mind to the human consciousness, so it can be seen as an initiation ritual of our time.

Me and my body

'Bodybuilding' has a similar meaning. It is a defence against human frailty and transience. Training is a kind of rape, overcoming resistance. The pain and fatigue after training is perceived as euphoria and joy of success, a sense of superiority, of strength. The reason for this behaviour is an instrumental attitude to one's own body. Building the musculature of one's own body often replaces contact with other people. Arnold Schwarzenegger often said that an armour of muscles protects one from the outside world, and that struggling with one's own body eliminates the fear of impermanence, decay and loneliness.

Another initiation ritual of our time is risky behaviour and sports. People who engage in risky sports speak of great feelings of happiness and euphoria. Risk-taking is driven by pleasure, but also by an unconscious need for punishment and a need for power and independence.

Self-aggression, for. panthermedia

Self-harm

In this dimension it serves to control emotions, also to control feelings of aggression. The person protects other people from aggression by vicariously exerting it on himself. Self-harm also serves to relieve inner tension, causes the release of euphoria and relaxation.

However, there are forms of actual aggression, namely covert and overt aggression. Covert self-aggression is a mental disorder that involves a person simulating or artificially inducing symptoms. Overt aggress ion is acts of self-injury to the body, such as biting oneself, pinching oneself, cutting the skin, beating oneself, burning oneself. Self-harm usually occurs in states of inner emptiness, depression, tension and despair.

The disorder found in dysmorphophobia is also not uncommon, when the patient fears having a significantly deformed body.

A typical example of overt self-aggression is self-mutilation not leading to death. The most common way to show overt aggression to oneself is to cut the skin with a knife or other sharp instrument, to beat oneself, to pinch oneself, to break bones, to burn the skin with a cigarette. We also include in this category pouring acid or another chemical on the skin or mucous membranes, as well as detergent.

Self-injury occurs...

In situations of severe stress or internal tension or immediately afterwards. Acts of self-harm are then always repeated in a conflict situation or a situation of high tension. It is a kind of compulsion. In a situation of tension, the patient does not feel pain.

Hidden self-aggression

This is the induction or feigning of symptoms of illness in order to be admitted to hospital or to undergo invasive medical tests. Such people are unable to control their behaviour, although they consciously induce symptoms of their illnesses. Patients, as they are mainly referred to, are able to simulate all symptoms of illnesses. Abdominal pains, for example, by tensing the abdominal muscles during the examination, they also simulate a temperature. Stomach haemorrhages by ingesting blood secreted from biting the mouth. They induce intestinal discomfort by ingesting laxatives or eating bloating foods.

Patients simulate stones in the urinary tract by pouring sand into the urine. Ailments from all systems and organs are similarly simulated. Also inducing mental illness. Of particular importance is Munchhausen 's syndrome , which is a behavioural disorder in which people who do not have a disorder, illness or physical disability pose as symptoms in a repeated or constant manner. The motivation for such behaviour is intrinsic and the condition can be interpreted as a behavioural disorder related to the illness or role of the patient.