Evaluation of the effects of the paternal function and identification to symbolization capacity in selfmutilating male adolescents through projective tests

The purpose of this study is to examine the differences between the effects of paternal function, süper ego development and identification problematics on symbolization capacity in male adolescents who act self harming physicially and non self harming group through projective tests. Behaviour of physical self harm is defined as the act of injury of oneself deliberately without a suicidal intention. Various ways can be preferred while self harming. The most common of these methods is to injure the skin through incision. In this study, the differences between 12 male adolescents at ages of 15-20 who injured the skin through incisions and 8 male adolescents who did not engage in self harming behavior were examined through projective methods. The group of self harming physicially has been reached through Maltepe Çocuk ve Gençlik Kapalı Ceza İnfaz Kurumu (Maltepe Juvenile Detention Center) and to reach non-self harming group, snowball sampling has been used. After semi-structered psychoanalytically oriented interview, Rorschach Test and TAT have been carried out to volunteered attendees. Test results have been evaluated and interpreted in the light of French School. Findings of content analyses indicate that adolescents who have self behaving behavior have difficulties internalizing the paternal function and süper ego functions are insufficient. However, it was observed that these adolescents have difficulties to identification problem and these insufficient functions affect their symbolization capacity.