In many cases, self-injury serves as a means of communication. Often a child is trying to convey a feeling or idea they may not be able to express in words. Biting, headbanging or other self-injurious behaviors are a means of getting their needs met and may be their urgent need to express pain, fear, displeasure, or anxiety. They may be trying to say, for example, “I’m scared, I want to get out of here” or “this is too hard, I don’t want to do this” or “Play with me!” or “Look at me!” or “My head hurts, it feels better when I bang it,” etc.
Self-injury can also be a form of sensory stimulation. An individual with autism may self-injure as a way to increase or decrease their level of arousal.
Often, self-injury is a learned behavior. Parents certainly don’t intend to teach children to engage in self-injury, but they may unintentionally reinforce the behaviors. If the child engages in self-injury and the parent or teacher hands them a preferred toy, the child quickly learns that self-injury leads to their favorite toy. On the other hand, if the child engages in self-injury, and the parent immediately removes them from an overstimulating environment, they learn that self-injury can help them avoid uncomfortable situations.
