Beliefs about the function of self-harm and stigmatizing responses: Testing the attribution model and a novel psychophysical response measure
Publication Name
Current Psychology
Abstract
We examined the relationship between pre-existing beliefs regarding the functions of self-harm and helping/discriminatory responses in an undergraduate sample (N = 237). Helping and discriminatory responses to self-harm were compared with an existing psychophysical measure that generated thresholds for helping intentions based on the frequency of self-harm behaviors (scratches) presented (Turner et al. in Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 2021). Participants viewed one of three vignettes depicting self-harm as either hidden or displayed with a third control condition where no information about the self-harm was provided (control). The vignettes aimed to infer either an interpersonal (displayed) or intrapersonal (hidden) motivation (vs the control). Participants completed questionnaires assessing responses towards the vignette, help-seeking attitudes, beliefs about the functions of self-harm, and a computer-based task assessing helping-intentions for self-harm. Results indicated that stronger endorsement of self-harm having interpersonal functions were related to more discriminatory responses. Conversely, endorsement of intrapersonal functions were related to less discriminatory responses. Participants’ responses to self-harm were consistent with the attribution model of stigma (Corrigan et al. in Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 44(2), 162–179, 2003), and components of a parallel ‘danger-appraisal’ hypothesis wherein discriminatory responses related to perceptions of dangerousness are mediated by fear, rather than personal responsibility beliefs. Differences in thresholds and helping/discriminatory responses between vignette conditions were not significant. Participants’ thresholds were not significantly correlated with other measures of help-seeking attitudes or helping/discriminatory responses. These results suggest that beliefs regarding the functions of self-harm account for significant variance in helping and discriminatory responses to self-harm. Implications for future research are discussed.
Open Access Status
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