Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Influence Of Social Contagion And Technology On Epidemic Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Paul M. Kirsch

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the deliberate damaging of one’s body without the intention of suicide (Nock & Favazza, 2009). NSSI can cause serious medical consequences and is associated with psychological impairment or distress in day-to-day functioning. When this type of pathological behavior occurs in inpatient settings, the behavior has been known to spread from patient to patient (Taiminen, Kallio-Soukainen, Nokso-Koivisto, Kaljonen, & Helenius, 1998). Recent internet-based research has shown that online forums have become a place for people to find social connections based on pathology (Whitlock, Powers, & Eckenrode, 2006). Christakis and Fowler (2009) showed that thoughts, actions, and feelings …