57 The Social Dimension of Self-Harm Andrej Démuth 1 , Slávka Démuthová 2 1 Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia 2 University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Trnava, Slovakia Abstract: The term “self-harm” represents a complex and multidimensional issue, which requires an understanding of the term itself as well as its key dimensions. The study presented is an attempt to analyze the concept of self-harm through the perspective of a three-dimensional (somaticpsycho-social/spiritual) model of personality. The main topic of the study is to analyze the social dimension of self-harm. The study shows that self-harm can be understood as a specific form of dialectical self-relationship – very often associated with forms and functions of social learning, self-image, self-punishment, social signaling, and social support. Keywords: society, self-harm, self-image, punishment, social learning 1. Introduction The term self-harm implies that this issue involves the actions of an individual that are aimed at themselves. Thus, it appears to be an introverted and intimate strategy (technique of power) used to approach oneself, thus giving no reason to consider it in the light of social psychology and social relations. However, the opposite is true. The aim of this paper is to discuss the social dimensions of self-harm, taking the psycho-somatic-social (spiritual) nature of the personality of the self-harming individual into account. 2. The Social Domains of Self-harm The first crucial dimension of self-harm which includes the social dimension of these actions is its cause. Mathew K. Nock (Nock 2010) formulated six fundamental hypotheses that lie behind the occurrence of self-harming behavior. The first hypothesis is social learning. Bandura’s concept of social learning assumes that an enormous number of our learning patterns originate from observed and learned techniques of how we behave towards ourselves, i.e. from the positive (and desirable) frameworks and the negative or pathological forms of behavior. It goes without saying that social contact plays a vital role in the development of young adolescents. Many of the things we know, we have learnt from our parents, peers, teachers and idols. Thus, it is understandable that many of the self-harming forms of behavior often originate from the cultural context in which the individual lives – an environment which offers them diverse behavioral strategies. A large body of scientific research highlights the impact of the media, institutions, communities or families on the patterns of behavior followed by youths. In both a positive and negative sense.