Self-Injurious Behavior

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) includes repetitive or persistent behavior that may cause physical harm or injury to oneself (Huisman et al., Neurosci Biobehav Rev 84: 483–491, 2018; Tate & Baroff, Behav Res Ther 4(1–2): 281–287, 1966). SIB can cause serious injury, require significant resources to treat, and greatly impact quality of life for the individual and their family, warranting the need for assessment and treatment. This chapter provides a general overview of the emergence and classification of SIB with an emphasis on operant principles related to the development and treatment of SIB. Following a brief description of functional assessment, we review general categories of behavioral treatments for SIB maintained by social and automatic reinforcement, with considerations for severity, safety, and long-term treatment success. Given the difficulty and complexity that may exist in the assessment and treatment of SIB, we close with some suggestions for how psychologists can incorporate their ethical guidelines into responsible, respectful, and humane care.