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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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 Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 5:41 pm Post subject: Is self-mutilation a sudden rising fad with teenage girls? |
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Has anyone else who teaches middle or high school girls noticed a number girls doing this or expressing an interest in this lately? I haven't until this year, and I'm thinking that maybe it's a sudden fad for some reason. One of my grade one middle schoolers has a horrible scar running the length of her hand and a few on her wrist, and one of my grade one high schoolers has what looks to be tiny letters or words she's burnt or cut into her arm. I have another grade 3 middle schooler who's changed her English name from Sharon to Craziblood and is writing various disturbing things on her handouts and in her journal like 'wristcut syndrome'. Her newest hobby is apparently 'collecting cruel photos'.
I know that lots and lots of Korean teens are into horror stuff but I haven't seen much in the way of self-destructive acts or interest in such things until lately. Anyone read anything on it and the best way to handel things when teens hand in disturbing writings? |
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bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Is self-mutilation a sudden rising fad with teenage girl |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
I know that lots and lots of Korean teens are into horror stuff but I haven't seen much in the way of self-destructive acts or interest in such things until lately. Anyone read anything on it and the best way to handel things when teens hand in disturbing writings? |
Haven't noticed it myself...however the best way to handle it as a foreign teacher is don't go within 300metres of it. Seriously.
If someone hands in disturbing writing, I suppose you could tell their regular English teacher who may talk to the homeroom teacher. However, being Korean English teachers, they will probably be more interested in the form of the writing and remain completely oblivious to the substance of it, disturbing or not. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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Self-mutilation, especially wrist cutting, is a phenomenon that has been on the rise among American adolescents, mostly girls but also boys, for at least a decade. It's been studied and talked about to death, not only among academics, but also in major publications such as TIME. At least one movie, entitled Thirteen, deals with the issue (outstanding film, btw).
One observed trend is that of mimicry. In very many cases, teens have formed support groups in attempts to aid a "cutter" friend, but what ended up happening was that, rather than helping the friend, some members of the very support groups began their own private cutting rituals.
Afaik, there have been no firm conclusions as to what is the source of the behavior. It's often said that it's done as a coping mechanism. However, it is also addictive behavior (endorphin release). In the US, the children usually make attempts to hide their scars. What you've mentioned sounds more like cries for attention, or attempts to stand out from the crowd, catch on to a cool American trend, etc. Quite often, teens engage in disturbing behavior out of conviction that negative attention is better than none. Then again, I do realize that adults often dismiss teen/child behavior too flippantly, so I may be guilty of that here.
If you're interested in the topic, Teachers' Awareness of Self-cutting Behavior.. is a great start. Here's a segment of the paper:
| Quote: |
Another common characteristic of adolescent
self-cutters is the inability to self-soothe or verbalize
painful emotional content, which may stem from
adverse childhood experiences. A study conducted
by Zila & Kiselica (2001) found that 70% of self-cutting
adolescents had grown up in a home where
there was abuse (physical, verbal, or sexual) or neglect.
Other factors positively correlated with self-cutting
are divorce of parents, incarceration of a parent,
and family instances of alcoholism or chronic mental
illness (Favazza, 1996). |
As for what you should do about it as a teacher, I'd suggest contacting other teachers who are well acquainted with the students in question. Most certainly do not mention it outright to the students, especially if others are watching. (Not that you would do that, but I felt it should be said.) The best situation would be to contact a counselor of some sort. I don't know if the public schools in Korea have that or not.
Q. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Qinella wrote: |
Self-mutilation, especially wrist cutting, is a phenomenon that has been on the rise among American adolescents, mostly girls but also boys, for at least a decade. It's been studied and talked about to death, not only among academics, but also in major publications such as TIME. At least one movie, entitled Thirteen, deals with the issue (outstanding film, btw).
One observed trend is that of mimicry. In very many cases, teens have formed support groups in attempts to aid a "cutter" friend, but what ended up happening was that, rather than helping the friend, some members of the very support groups began their own private cutting rituals.
Afaik, there have been no firm conclusions as to what is the source of the behavior. It's often said that it's done as a coping mechanism. However, it is also addictive behavior (endorphin release). In the US, the children usually make attempts to hide their scars. What you've mentioned sounds more like cries for attention, or attempts to stand out from the crowd, catch on to a cool American trend, etc. Quite often, teens engage in disturbing behavior out of conviction that negative attention is better than none. Then again, I do realize that adults often dismiss teen/child behavior too flippantly, so I may be guilty of that here.
If you're interested in the topic, Teachers' Awareness of Self-cutting Behavior.. is a great start. Here's a segment of the paper:
| Quote: |
Another common characteristic of adolescent
self-cutters is the inability to self-soothe or verbalize
painful emotional content, which may stem from
adverse childhood experiences. A study conducted
by Zila & Kiselica (2001) found that 70% of self-cutting
adolescents had grown up in a home where
there was abuse (physical, verbal, or sexual) or neglect.
Other factors positively correlated with self-cutting
are divorce of parents, incarceration of a parent,
and family instances of alcoholism or chronic mental
illness (Favazza, 1996). |
As for what you should do about it as a teacher, I'd suggest contacting other teachers who are well acquainted with the students in question. Most certainly do not mention it outright to the students, especially if others are watching. (Not that you would do that, but I felt it should be said.) The best situation would be to contact a counselor of some sort. I don't know if the public schools in Korea have that or not.
Q. |
Thanks for that. The one who had the marks on her arm that looked like writing was keeping it under her school blouse and I couldn't see much. I only noticed it when I was walking around checking out what students were coming up with on a sentence reconstruction game. It almost looks like it could be a very crude attempt at tattooing, something that would really freak people out here. I fear we have some pretty bad girls in that class this year.
I heard about scarhand from the PE teacher but wasn't able to get a coherent explanation in broken English. When I saw it I sort of went 'holy shit' and asked her how the hell that happened in front of a bunch of other students but they must have known the story. Both are new students to my school this year. Scarhand's quite a character and I already know her full name for both the good and the bad reason.
I know Craziblood much better and know her former hagwon teacher, who speaks excellent English. I think I'll go to her if I see anything too disturbing. I think the kid just wants to get noticed while making it look like she doesn't want to, if you know what I mean.
Thanks for the link. I just wonder how many others there are who may be hiding it. As for councelors of the type you're thinking, I can think of one teacher at the high school who might fit that role. At the middle school the English teachers got switched around this year and I've been teaching the kids in their classes much longer than they have and know many of them much better. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I'll tell you what the problem is. It's that damned Marilyn Manson again. First, he made those boys in Columbine kill people. Then, made some boy commit suicide. Now, he has branched into the Korean market to feed is Satanic lusts. |
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cbclark4
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: Masan
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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Well at least we know it can't be Ozzy Osbourne.
cbc |
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Scouse Mouse
Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Location: Cloud #9
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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In the west this is pretty common or women and girls under stress. Men tend to opt for suicide whilst women hack away at themselves.
Fact is, there is little you can do to address the situation. I have known 2 people that have been involved in this behaviour in the past. One was a 17 year old girl who was having difficulties with her mother after her parents split. The other was the 11 year old daughter of a family friend.
The first situation I was able to offer real advise that worked... move in with dad is mum is such a cow!
The second situation was harder... the problems stemmed from problems at school. The kid was overweight and was taking a ton of crap from other kids. She was also the new girl at school as the family had recently moved to the area. Eventually they moved the girl to another school and the problem stopped...
The fact is, you can never stop them from behaving this way unless you are close to them and can address the root cause. This is a job for their parents. The only thing you can really do is ensure that people know that there is a problem and follow up on any commitment to contact the parents... Of course you could open a real can of worms by doing this... the problem may well be the school... or the parents! |
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DJTwoTone
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Location: Yangsan - I'm not sure where it is either
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Of course... It's all Ozzy's fault... He was here a few years ago, and it's just taken a while for the infection to spread. Mystery solved... You can all go back to your regularly scheduled programming... |
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Mosley
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 6:15 am Post subject: |
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| Actually, the first time I ever came across this trend was 10(!) years ago in Japan. Didn't understand it then; don't understand it now.... |
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