A self-inflicted wound (SIW) or self-inflicted injury (SII) is a physical
injury
Injury is physiological damage to the living tissue of any organism, whether in humans, in other animals, or in plants.
Injuries can be caused in many ways, including mechanically with penetration by sharp objects such as teeth or with ...
done to oneself. This may occur in contexts including:
*
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death.
Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...
or
suicide attempt A suicide attempt is an act in which an individual tries to kill themselves but survives. Mental health professionals discourage describing suicide attempts as "failed" or "unsuccessful", as doing so may imply that a suicide resulting in death is ...
*
Self-harm
Self-harm refers to intentional behaviors that cause harm to oneself. This is most commonly regarded as direct injury of one's own skin tissues, usually without suicidal intention. Other terms such as cutting, self-abuse, self-injury, and s ...
(non-suicidal self-injury)
[
* As a result of an ]organic brain syndrome
Organic brain syndrome, also known as organic brain disease, organic brain damage, organic brain disorder (OBD), organic mental syndrome, or organic mental disorder, refers to any syndrome or disorder of mental function whose cause is alleged ...
[
* Pursuit of an ulterior motive, including:
** To avoid military service]Self-surgery
Self-surgery is the act of performing a surgery, surgical procedure on oneself. It can be an act taken in extreme circumstances out of necessity, an attempt to avoid embarrassment, legal action, or financial costs, or a rare manifestation of a psyc ...
,Autoenucleation
Autoenucleation, also known as oedipism, is the self-inflicted enucleation (removal) of the eye. It is considered a form of self-mutilation and is normally caused by psychosis, paranoid delusions or drugs. Between 1968 and 2018, there were more t ...
** Self-inflicted caesarean section
** Self-castration
* Body modification
Body modification (or body alteration) is the deliberate altering of the human anatomy or human physical appearance. In its broadest definition it includes skin tattooing, socially acceptable decoration (''e.g.'', common earring, ear piercing in ...
, including for ritual purposes[
* ]Autoeroticism
Autoeroticism (also known as autoerotism or self-gratification) is sexual activity involving only one participant. It is the use of one's own body and mind to stimulate oneself sexually.
As an extension of masturbation, it usually means one ...
[
While some sources use the terms to include accidental injury, others cast "self-inflicted" in opposition to "accidental".]
References