The Pathology of Self-Mutilation and Destructive Acts: A Forensic Study and Review

This article describes the various components of Karl Menninger’s classification of self-destructive behavior – particularly focal suicide. Focal suicide includes self mutilation (e.g., among prisoners & patients in mental institutions, or those with familial disorders), malingering (insurance fraud, Munchausen’s syndrome), polysurgery, purposeful accidents, impotence & frigidity. The author also describes common types of self mutilation.