Abstract

COSTA, Luiza Cesar Riani et al. Contributions of Winnicott’s Psychoanalytic Theory to the Study of Self-injury: A Scoping Review. Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto) [online]. 2025, vol.35, e3516.  Epub Aug 29, 2025. ISSN 0103-863X.  https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e3516.

This study aimed to map the scientific evidence and contributions of Winnicott’s Psychoanalytic Theory to the study of self-injury (also known as self-harm). Familial, social, political and historical environments are deeply entangled with individual distress, and Winnicott’s psychoanalytic theory offers relevant contributions to rethinking self-injury as this contextualized issue. The authors conducted a scoping review in the BVS, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases, selecting 36 studies. The thematic analysis resulted in three categories: the role of skin in the constitution of the self, self-harm as survival/reaction to environmental invasions, and implications of Winnicottian perspective for the care of non-suicidal self-injury. This study questioned dualistic and conventional notions of self-harm as a disorder, addiction, or coping strategy, alternatively presenting deeper and more subtle ways of thinking about its meanings. Finally, it is suggested that caring for people who self-harm should focus more on exploring these meanings than on seeking abstinence.

Keywords : self-harm; psychoanalysis; Winnicott; literature review.

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