Citation

Heshusius L. Sex Roles 1980; 6(6): 843-857.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF00287239

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

There is a consistent and significant higher ratio of females who engage in self-injury or who attempt suicide as compared to males, or as compared to suicidal commits by both sexes. This paper focuses on the problem of female excess in self-injury and suicide attempts. Biological/psychological variables which have been linked to these female self-destructive behaviors are enumerated and an alternative sociocultural explanation is suggested. Sex-role expectations are shown to be essential in explaining female self-injury and suicide attempts. The notion that these female self-destructive behaviors offer self-preservation is criticized, as is the failure in the literature to investigate what female self-injury and suicidal attempts actually do accomplish. Direction for solutions is mentioned in terms of research findings on self-actualization and on androgynous persons.