The Analysis of Self-Mutilation in Adolescence Based on the Theory of Mentalization: From Sukhvinder in the Novel 'Casual Vacancy'

Oh, Mi Ae; Park, Chanmin; Lee, Yeon Jeong; Hong, Minha; Han, Ju Hee; Oh, Soo Hyun; Park, Jun Heon; Bahn, Geon Ho

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Adolescence has developmental tasks, unique psychological characteristics and behaviors. Increase in internet and game addiction, school violence and suicide might be one aspect of adolescence or a psychopathological phenomenon. Software development for programs to prevent and solve adolescents' behavioral problems is urgent. To easily approach adolescents, we interpreted and found solutions for problematic adolescent characters in literature, based on the mentalization theory.
METHODS
Among characters in Joan K. Rowling's novel 'Casual Vacancy', 'Sukhvinder' is a girl with representative problems of adolescents such as a victim of school bullying and self-mutilation. We targeted her problematic behaviors as the prementalistic modes.
RESULTS
Sukhvinder, born in an elite English family with Pakistani origin, fails her parents' expectation unlike her siblings. Whenever she reaches a psychological crisis, she regresses into the teleologic mode, the primitive prementalization stage, and feels her sense of self by cutting herself. Barry Fairbrother, the Pagford's Parish Councillor, organizes and supports a rowing team. Being the authoritative figure, he helps enhance the mentalization of deviant students. After Barry's sudden death, Sukhvinder repeated regression and self-mutilation. However after her friend's suicide, she gets to commune with her parents and meets the momentum of mentalization.
CONCLUSION
By analyzing Sukhvinder's behavior, we assessed patterns of attachment, empathy and mentalization, and found corrective ways for problematic behaviors. We expect this interpretation may serve as the basic material for model development to understand adolescents' deviant behaviors, which would be applicable to psychiatrists, students and allied professionals of school mental health.