Violation of the instinct of self-preservation is manifested by its rise, fall and perversion.

An increase in the instinct of self-preservation is manifested by the fear of everything new, fear of strangers and objects, adherence to the usual and unchanging order. Fear associated with an increased instinct for self-preservation may be unmotivated, have a high intensity and a vital connotation, be accompanied by psychomotor agitation or lethargy.

In children, an increase in the instinct of self-preservation is most clearly manifested in neuropathy and early childhood autism. In addition, it occurs in schizoid, asthenoneurotic, psychasthenic and conformal personalities, with schizophrenia and the atonic form of oligophrenia.

The reduction and perversion of the instinct of self-preservation is expressed by aggressiveness. With a decrease in the instinct of self-preservation, heteroaggressiveness is observed - hostile actions directed against surrounding persons and objects. The perversion of the instinct of self-preservation is manifested by auto-aggression - aggression directed at oneself (mutilation, injury, any damage to oneself). Autoaggressiveness can be combined with masochism.

In children under 3 years of age, rudimentary manifestations of heteroaggressiveness are expressed by unmotivated, persistent stubbornness.

In children aged 3-7 years, increased aggressiveness is manifested by affective outbursts with conflict, stubbornness, direct aggression (they can hit, bite, spit), including towards the mother and relatives. Aggression may be accompanied by food refusal.

At school age, children with aggressiveness experience joy at the failures or sufferings of others, they are unfriendly and distrustful of others. Such children are pugnacious, cruel, mock the younger ones, find fault with the statements and actions of their parents. In the case of aggressive-sadistic behavior, constant and cruel aggressiveness is combined with a sadistic perversion of sexual desire.

In adolescents, aggressiveness is manifested by delinquent behavior:

violation of school discipline;

disobedience;

hooligan behavior;

the desire to contradict parents and teachers, etc.

A decrease in the instinct of self-preservation with the phenomena of heteroaggressiveness occurs in nuclear and organic psychopathy (excitable, unstable, hysteroid, hyperthymic types), pathological personality developments, psychopathic states of organic genesis. In schizophrenia, it is characterized by pretentiousness of aggression, sadistic elements, in epilepsy - impulsivity, occurrence against the background of dysphoria or twilight clouding of consciousness.

Auto-aggression is manifested by pathological habits that have the character of symbolic auto-aggressive actions. There is trichotillomania - hair pulling, onychophagia - biting nails, automutation - biting lips, fingers. Pathological habits are observed in psychopathy, neuroses, schizophrenia, and organic brain lesions.

More severe manifestations of auto-aggressiveness are self-destructive actions (the desire for self-mutilation, self-harm) and suicide or suicide (from Latin suis - oneself, caedo - to kill).

In particular, there were cases when patients inflicted severe injuries on themselves - they subjected themselves to castration, castration, pulled out their tongues, eyes, hammered a nail into their heads. The drive to self-harm can be impulsive or develop in connection with delusional, hallucinatory experiences, states of clouded consciousness, paroxysmal states.

The problem of suicides is studied within the framework of an independent section of psychiatry - suicidology. Patients may express suicidal thoughts, report their suicidal intentions, or perform suicidal acts. Distinguish between true, often completed (leading to the death of the patient) and demonstrative, in the vast majority of incomplete suicides.

The number of incomplete suicides exceeds the number of completed ones by 5-10 times, and in our country, according to various sources, it ranges from 300 to 800 per 100,000.

Today, suicide is one of the top ten causes of death in many countries. In the US, the number of suicides per 100,000 population has remained relatively stable since 1950, fluctuating between 10 and 13 per 100,000 each year. The number of suicides varies depending on age, gender, seasonality, and the degree of social isolation.

The age groups of the elderly population have the greatest risk, which is explained by the influence of somatic diseases, the loss of a social role, loneliness and periodic depression. The number of suicides for persons from 15 to 24 years old compared to the 50s has increased 3 times. Among the possible reasons indicate the spread of mental illness, drug addiction. Men complete about 80% of all suicides, but women attempt suicide 3 times more often than men. Suicides are committed, as a rule, in the spring months.

suicide

Suicide is always a struggle of motives: on the one hand, the reasons contributing to suicide, on the other hand, an anti-suicidal barrier (a set of reasons that prevent suicide - fear of death, fear of physical pain, concern for relatives and friends, moral attitudes, etc.).

One of the first classifications of suicides was proposed by E. Durkheim:

egoistic suicides are characteristic of persons who have lost contact with their social group and are deprived of family and religious and moral control (a person chooses his consciousness as “the only subject of his analysis”);

altruistic suicide - a conscious choice for the benefit of a social group;

Anomic suicide is observed in a society that is in crisis and is in the process of radical change.

Modern psychological theories attach importance to psychodynamic concepts, in particular, suicidal fantasies are studied, including a thirst for revenge, power, control, punishment; thirst for redemption and sacrifice; desire to run away or sleep; be reborn through death into a new life. According to A.G. Ambrumova, a suicidal conflict can be caused by real causes, primarily in normal individuals, be based on certain pathological character traits, or be the result of a mental illness. With a subjective feeling of unresolved conflict, suicide is chosen.

A.G. Ambrumova distinguishes 4 types of non-psychotic suicidal reactions.

The egocentric switching reaction is an acute affective reaction to conflict with the sudden onset and irresistible nature of suicidal intent.

The reaction of psychalgia is getting rid of the growing severity of affective experiences.

The reaction of negative interpersonal relations is characterized by painful concentration, often quite long (from several months to a year) on ideas and judgments associated with a sharply changed negative attitude towards the subject of highly significant persons for him. Sometimes a suicide attempt can be manipulative in nature, depending on the reaction of others to what happened.

The negative balance reaction is a rational summing up of life with a high level of criticality, consideration of all aspects of the situation. The possibility of the presence of a component of this response in the structure of the above types should be taken into account, which significantly aggravates the prognosis in the post-suicidal period.

The most important cause of suicide is mental disorders (nine out of ten suicides).

With the greatest frequency they are observed in depressive disorders. With endogenous forms, suicidal thoughts are detected in almost every patient, suicidal intentions and attempts were noted in half of the cases, and completed suicide in 8-10%. Pathological motives are primarily associated with the vital component of anxious and melancholy experiences and depressive ideas of self-abasement and self-blame. Suicidal behavior is observed both in severe forms and in relatively minor disorders. In the latter case, the possibility of a suicide attempt increases due to the weak severity of psychomotor retardation. In depressive raptus, the attempt to commit suicide is impulsive.

The second place - 15-25% of all completed suicides - is occupied by various forms of drug addiction, most often chronic alcoholism. In the latter case, the risk of suicide is 80 times higher than in healthy individuals.

Schizophrenia is diagnosed in 3-10% of suicides. Pathological motivation is associated with delusional disorder, imperative hallucinations. In catatonia, suicide attempts are impulsive, unmotivated, and random.

Severe suicidal attempts in epilepsy are observed with epileptiform arousal.

Suicide is relatively rare in neurotic disorders. An exception is hysterical reactions, which are characterized by demonstrative suicides in order to draw attention to their personality. Suicidal intentions are often realized in the form of vein cuts on the forearms, drug poisoning. The demonstrative nature is indicated by "farewell notes, secret confessions to relatives or friends" with a certain expectation that the latter will stop them at the last moment. However, the severity of the condition should not be underestimated. With pronounced affective tension and the development of an affective narrowing of consciousness, suicide can take on a complete character.

A personality disorder has been identified in 35-50% of suicides during lifetime or by retrospection, usually in combination with causes such as depression and drug addiction. Patients with AIDS have a high risk of suicide.

Among the main points that should be paid attention to by doctors who are directly dealing with patients who have made a suicide attempt, the following should be highlighted.

1. The greatest danger is the first week after the suicide.

2. Persons suffering from mental illness, psychopathic character traits, addictive behavior, as well as a history of suicide attempts have the greatest risk of re-suicide.

3. In non-psychotic forms, persons with an egocentric switching reaction have the lowest risk of re-suicide in the post-suicidal period, and those with a negative balance reaction have the highest risk (according to A.G. Ambrumova).

It is believed that among children, suicide is a fairly rare occurrence. Using the threat of suicide, children rarely resort to it. However, there is a clear upward trend in suicide among younger adolescents. Boys in this group are more likely to commit suicide, often resorting to violent methods such as self-hanging. Girls use, as a rule, excessive doses of drugs. One of the factors leading to suicide in this group is antisocial and suicidal behavior and depressive disorders in relatives. They also note the importance of such traits as impulsivity, a tendency to violence and intolerance of criticism. Among older adolescents, the trend towards an increase in suicides is associated with the spread of alcohol and drugs among adolescents, an increase in the number of broken families. In the latter case, suicidal behavior serves as a kind of message (pseudo-suicide), an attempt to attract love and attention, provoke punishment or show one's anger. It was noted that in 2/3 of the families, infantile-dependent and ambivalent relationships with mothers were revealed, while the mothers themselves had depressive disorders and suicidal attempts.

It should be given to everyone at birth and accompany us throughout our lives. Protect us and our health, protect us from dangers and troubles. But is it really so now?

In theory, yes. The instinct of self-preservation (IS) is innate and is transmitted to us by inheritance through DNA and the so-called genetic memory. What our ancestors had to work out by experience, we get right away. A small child feels danger from birth and knows how to avoid it - he screams when he is hungry, when he is hurt or cold, and this requires the attention and protection of an adult. As he ages, he faces other dangers and also needs to know how to respond to them, but this is not always the case. Growing up, some of the children become too cautious and afraid even where there is no danger, while others do not feel threatened at all and put themselves at risk and face its consequences. Why is this happening?

IP CAN BE STRENGTHENED OR WEAKENED

Reinforced IC

Surely you have come across not only children, but also adults who are worried for any reason, see danger where there is none and are constantly worried about their safety. For example, checking whether the doors are closed for all locks several times. There are adults who are very careful and scrupulous about their diet, avoiding all kinds of harmful foods and do not allow themselves even a little tasty if it is not healthy. There are overly cautious and fearful people who avoid any potentially dangerous and not very situations. And all of them are united by the fact that their sense of fear of death is too actualized. In other words, they have enhanced IS.

What are the reasons for this?

Scientists and psychologists around the world are actively investigating this issue, and it is known for sure that there are congenital as well as acquired factors that affect the functioning of IP.

It can be enhanced from birth, for example, in people living for generations in areas where there is constant danger - wildlife, zones of military activity, etc. Therefore, in order to survive, their behavior acquires specific features that are constantly reinforced and improved. As a result, it becomes characteristic for most members of such a community and is passed down from generation to generation.

If we talk about changes in IP that occurred after birth and during later life, then it can be enhanced by circumstances that pose a risk to human health and life. These factors are quite intense and long-term, therefore, in this way they affect people with initially normal IP. IP is enhanced especially during the early development of children, when they are in an unfavorable environment and do not feel safe. It also applies to any other period in a person's life that significantly affected the individual and resulted in changes in responses to threat.

Weakened IC

As for the weakened IP, it can also be both congenital and acquired.

If a person has such features from the very beginning of life, then this is probably due to his heredity and / or certain genetic modifications. And in a small part of the population, this is evolutionarily necessary. Because society needs people who are able to take risks, be decisive and fearless in extraordinary situations. We are talking about such professions as policemen, firemen, military men, doctors, etc. And their importance lies in the fact that, thanks to their features, they can save the lives of many people who do not have such abilities, and thereby protect the community from great losses.

If the number of such people increases in the population, then this is not justified from the point of view of evolution. Because in order to satisfy their need for risky behavior, people expose themselves to unjustified danger and often die.

I will give examples of such behavior below.

If IS was normal at birth and became weakened later, this means that the changes are acquired. Various factors could influence, but most often it was upbringing in the family, i.e. influence of the micro-society. And, of course, one should not underestimate the contribution of the macrosociety, namely: the society in which the child develops. Children whose parents are overprotective and anxious to the extent that they do not allow the child to independently contact the real world contribute to a decrease in IP. They more often educate them with the help of morality - "I said it's scary, move away", "don't go into the fire, I say: you'll get burned", "don't go, it's dangerous there", etc. Thus, they bring up all the cautions in the head, but do not allow them to be tested on sensations, feelings and emotions. And therefore it is difficult for them to feel the danger - they only hear about it. Their innate abilities are waning as they are not reinforced and do not appear.

As for society, it influences through its social and cultural characteristics. For example, growing up in fairly comfortable conditions, having food in full access, good housing, quality medical care and state protection in the form of police and other structures, a person does not need to survive and get food. His defense system turns out to be unused to its full potential. And again: what is given by nature is lost.

What happens if the IC works too hard or vice versa, loses its power?

When IS is heightened, we become overly cautious and fearful, depriving ourselves of potential pleasures and pleasures, because we are afraid to try something new or unknown. We experience a lot of anxiety and fear in unjustified situations for this. We limit or complicate life in order to prevent imaginary troubles.

When it is weakened, we are dealing with opposite phenomena - low sensitivity to dangers and threats, as well as a weak sense of fear of death. And these can be people of the “saving” professions mentioned above, and their desire for risk is justified evolutionarily, but, unfortunately, not personally for them. As well as the second category of people who take risks intentionally and enjoy it. They are so attracted to an extreme situation that having overcome it, they get a lot of adrenaline and satisfaction, and for this they are ready to repeat it again and again.

I will give the following examples. For example, teenagers who have a blunted sense of fear get into dangerous situations without fully realizing it. They can master extreme driving, drink alcohol in large quantities, experiment in sexual relationships, without considering the serious consequences that are very likely. Because their weakened IP in combination with active sex hormones do not make them feel threatened in full.

In relation to adults, I would talk about all kinds of risky entertainment and extreme sports - diving, mountaineering, bungee jumping (bungee jumping), base jumping (parachuting from stationary objects), slacklining (walking on a tightrope for very high altitude), volcanoboarding (descent from an active volcano on a board), limboskating (roller skating under a very low obstacle, such as under a car on the road) and many others, as well as roofing (climbing the roofs of tall buildings), digging (penetration into underground structures), trainsurfing (riding on the roofs of trains, electric trains, etc. transport), etc. The pleasure from which is great and unusual, and the risks are not always proportionate.

What to do with enhanced IP?

Children with enhanced IP need a safe environment, affectionate and respectful treatment. It is important for them to check and make sure of the strength of this world and its stability all the time. It is necessary to adhere to the sleep and nutrition regimen. Create good conditions for relaxation, where there are no disturbing sounds and noises. Games for them should be selected more calm, and in which there are no sudden unpredictable and unpleasant moments. They care about persistence.

For the younger generation with weak IP, it is important to lead by example, explain important things and let them check everything for themselves. They just need to trust in this and have patience. For example, bringing a hand to the fire, the child feels its warmth, then heat, and noting these sensations does not climb into the fire, because. feels that the temperature is already high. Let him feel it for himself, because more often than not, we know more than we feel. And this applies to other situations with heights, sharp objects, etc.

Adults with heightened IS, which manifests itself in a little anxiety and caution, should increase their sense of security. Think about what it depends on and take additional measures. If it concerns the house, then it will take care of its physical protection (windows, doors, etc.), if it concerns transport, then find a more relaxed form of transportation, etc. For those who are overly fearful and cautious, we can recommend little by little "testing the world for its strength." If you are afraid to visit some crowded places, shops with expensive clothes, etc., you can go there in the company of a person who is not afraid and can provide support. The main thing is not to rush and do it gradually. The same applies to other examples related to the excessive desire for a healthy diet, for example, or a healthy lifestyle. To try what you want, but a little bit and slowly, listening to your inner feelings, in order to really understand whether I’m good with it or not, this is my knowledge that it’s dangerous or a feeling.

People who have significantly increased IS, with high anxiety and fear, whose behavior cannot be corrected by the above methods, should seek help from a psychotherapist. But on the condition that this interferes with the person himself and he feels the need for change.

What to do to save yourself with a weakened IP?

Growing children, and especially teenagers, require a different kind of help from their parents in this regard, directing their unbridled energy and propensity to take risks in a peaceful direction. They will be very fond of sports sections, martial arts, military sports sections and scout camps, where they will show their abilities and enjoy it. Pay attention to activities your child enjoys and find similar but safe alternatives.

What to say to adults who love risk and expose themselves to not always justified danger is to be a child sometimes. Express your desires as often and as varied as possible. Perhaps, by satisfying your little pranks, learn to enjoy not only an excess of adrenaline, but still in a more loyal way for health and life. Be closer to your feelings, sensations and your body. Recognize his signs and reactions, and most importantly, trust. After all, we have genetic memory and we can use it. Do physical exercises, breathing and other bodily practices to become more aware of yourself and your feelings.

Increasing the instinct of self-preservation in children is manifested by the fear of novelty, unfamiliar faces and objects. In adults, as an increase in the instinct of self-preservation and the associated attraction to the maximum extension of life, with a certain degree of conditionality, one can consider hypochondria, in particular one of its forms, sometimes referred to as “health hypochondria”, which is more common in men. The experiences and behavior of persons who are characterized by such deviations are concentrated on maintaining health and “prolonging life”. Their main efforts are focused on improving well-being, endless physical improvement, for which various methods of hardening, nutrition, physical exercises, etc. are used.

Weakening of the instinct of self-preservation can be expressed in the form of self-destructive actions - causing physical damage to body tissues (self-harm or self-mutilation). It occurs most often in schizophrenia. This group of disorders includes cases of passion for piercing in adolescents, boys and girls, and sometimes adults who use the introduction of numerous metal objects into various parts of the body, despite the risk of complications, sometimes life-threatening. In childhood and adolescence, sometimes there is trichotillomania (from the Greek trichos - hair, tillo - to pull out) - the desire to pull out, and sometimes swallow one's own hair.

self-aggressive actions undertaken with the aim of suicide (most often of a demonstrative nature), can also be regarded as a weakening of the instinct of self-preservation. Auto-aggressive behavior is characteristic primarily for persons with a pathology of character of predominantly excitable, unstable, hysteroid and epileptoid types. Particular importance is attached to the presence of residual cerebro-organic insufficiency. Such behavior caused by a disorder of drives, with certain reservations, should be distinguished from conscious auto-aggression in true suicidal attempts, since among suicidologists there are both supporters and opponents of interpreting suicide from the standpoint of a weakened, suppressed self-preservation instinct.

Aggressive behavior can be considered an expression of the perverted instinct of self-preservation, with some convention. As a manifestation of heteroaggression, one can consider the actions of children that are already noted at an early age: blows, bites, spitting directed against relatives, other children, strangers, often for no apparent reason. In childhood, adolescence, adolescence, as well as in adults, heteroaggressive behavior is expressed by frequent provocation of conflicts, with threats, fights and damage to others. More typical heteroaggressive actions for deep psychopaths, often with organic cerebral insufficiency, excitable, unstable and epileptoid circle. They can also occur in schizophrenia, epilepsy, and residual organic psychopathic states. Aggressive actions of patients with schizophrenia are characterized by unmotivated, pretentiousness, particular cruelty, sadistic signs. In patients with epilepsy, aggression is paroxysmal, brutal in nature and often occurs against the background of dysphoria or twilight stupefaction.

Given the fact that it is this instinct that is one of the main ones and largely determines a person’s ability to live long, any disorders of the self-preservation instinct can practically be considered deadly, although from a medical point of view, it would seem that there are no risks to life.

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Types of disorders of the instinct of self-preservation

Disorders of the instinct of self-preservation can be associated with both its increase and its decrease. Let's take a closer look at each of the directions.

Increasing the instinct of self-preservation

An increase in the instinct of self-preservation, as a rule, is observed in children. The disorder manifests itself in fear (often excessive) of everything new and unfamiliar, including faces and people. However, in adults, this deviation can also manifest itself, but in a slightly different form.

Increasing the instinct of self-preservation in adults is more likehypochondriacal syndrome . Moreover, psychiatrists single out the corresponding manifestation as a separate form of hypochondria - the so-called "health hypochondria". It is curious that in men this form of self-preservation disorder is much more common than in women.

The meaning of life for people with an increased instinct for self-preservation is to maintain health and increase their own life expectancy. All their efforts are aimed at strengthening immunity and physical development, for which a variety of methods and techniques are used, including diets, massages, acupuncture and hardening.

Weakening of the instinct of self-preservation

As you may have guessed, the opposite type of self-preservation disorder is its weakening. Often this phenomenon is accompanied by heteroaggressiveness. It is often the result of several types of nuclear or organic psychopathy, as well as deviations in personality development or organic genesis. For example, schizophrenics are characterized by sadistic inclinations, and epileptics are characterized by excessive impulsiveness against the background of clouding the mind.

The weakening of the instinct of self-preservation is expressed in two main manifestations:

Self-destructive actions (self-destruction)

Self-destructive actions, that is, intentionally inflicting physical damage on oneself (usually occurs with schizophrenic deviations). This group also includes an excessive passion for piercing, in which people of all ages implant numerous metal products under their skin, ignoring the possibility of potentially dangerous complications.

Among children and adolescents, sometimes there are cases when the patient pulls out and eats his own hair - the so-called trichophagia.

Auto-aggressive actions (auto-aggression)

Auto-aggressive actions, most often, manifest themselves in the form of demonstrative suicide attempts.Suicidal behavior can be safely regarded as a weakening of the instinct of self-preservation. This type of behavior is often found in people with pathologies of excitable and unstable types, as well as in epileptics. At the same time, residual cerebro-organic insufficiency is an important factor.

It is important, however, to distinguish between suicidal behavior and actual suicidal tendencies.

Manifestations of aggressiveness

Another manifestation of the weakening of the instinct of self-preservation can be called aggression directed at other people. This is especially pronounced in childhood and adolescence, when no special reasons are sought for blows, spitting and insults. Hetero-aggressive behavior is often provocative in nature, the purpose of which is to create conflicts in which other people can be physically harmed.

In addition, heteroaggressive behavior may be a sign of profound mental disorders associated with cerebral insufficiency or epilepsy. Such deviations are often found in various forms of schizophrenia, whose patients often show particular cruelty and sadism in the manifestations of aggression. In epileptics, aggression is brutal and not always conscious.

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Glossary of terms

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Autoaggression - activity, consciously or unconsciously aimed at causing physical or mental harm to oneself. It is considered one of the mechanisms of psychological protection of a person. It often manifests itself not only in self-harm, but also in insults, self-deprecation and even craving for extreme sports and dangerous professions. In some cases, types of auto-aggression can be considereddrug addiction and alcoholism.

Self-destructiveness- the same as autoaggression .

Heteroaggression - aggression directed at external objects (people, animals and objects), as well as at situations that a person perceives as a source of danger (mainly in cases where the object of aggression does not really pose any danger).

Deviance (deviation, deviant behavior)– personal behavior that differs from generally accepted, socially acceptable, established norms and leads to the application of sanctions by society against the offender (compulsory treatment, imprisonment, exclusion from society, execution, etc.). Deviance as a social phenomenon is studied by sociology, as an individual (medical) phenomenon - by psychology and psychiatry.

Delinquency – antisocial illegal action or inaction of a person that harms both individual citizens and society as a whole.

The instinct of self-preservation – an innate form of human behavior in the event of a danger, the ability to act automatically (instinctively) if necessary to save oneself from the corresponding danger. It is realized through the sensations of pain and fear as limiting factors. At the same time, pain is perceived as an abnormal condition that must be stopped, and fear makes you hide from danger, and in parallel causes the release of an additional portion of adrenaline into the blood.

Hypochondria (hypochondriac syndrome, hypochondriacal depression)- redundant the patient's anxiety about the danger of his situation, for example, the danger of a completely harmless disease. Anxiety arises even if the indisposition from the disease does not cause him much discomfort or the disease is habitual.

Trichophagy- To a complex of mental disorders, the hallmark of which is an unhealthy attraction of a person to his own hair - the desire to constantly eat them. According to statistics, however, there are not so many patients with such a diagnosis. True, many researchers note that people tend to hide such attractions, or not pay any attention to them.