Description
Book SynopsisFavazza critically assesses new and significant biological, ethnological, social, and psychological findings regarding self-injury; presents current understandings of self-injurious acts from cultural and clinical perspectives; and places self-mutilation in historical and contemporary context.
Trade Review"The second edition of the fascinating but gruesome Bodies under Siege by Armando R. Favazza explores the various ways in which people mutilate their bodies. Favazza explores the historical background and offers insights into how and why people do truly appalling things to their limbs, heads, and genitals. He pleads for understanding for a group of patients who are often seen as bizarre and repellent." (New Scientist) "The seminal book on [nonsuicidal self-injury]; presents a comprehensive historical, anthropological, and clinical review of the topic." (Current Directions in Psychological Science) "A compendium of cultural and clinical reports of self-mutilation and a summary of what is and what is not known about therapy, the book is a major contribution to both the anthropological and psychiatric literature. I know that having read it I will see my next self-mutilating patient through more insightful and compassionate eyes." (Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorders)"
Table of ContentsPreface to the Third Edition
Part I: Mutilative Beliefs, Religion, Eating, and Ethology
1. Mutilative Beliefs, Attitudes, Practices, and Images
2. Self-mutilation in Myths of Creation, Shamanism, and Religion
3. Self-injury and Eating Disorders
4. Animals and Automutilation
Part II: Mutilation and Self-Injury of Body Parts: Cultural and Clinical Cases
5. The Head and Its Parts
6. The Limbs
7. The Skin
8. The Genitals
Part III: Insight and Treatment
9. Understanding Self-injury
10. The Assessment, Psychology, and Biology of Self-injury
11. Treatment
12. Personal Reflections
Epilogue: Body Play: My Journey, Fakir Musafar
References
Index
