Extra- and intrapunitive types of reactions to frustration: an impact on the suicidal characteristics of young men

It is known that there are distinguished extrapunitive, intrapunitive and impunitive types of reactions to frustration. Accordingly, a person is either inclined to blame themselves for what happened, or blame other people and circumstances, or blame nobody. This study evaluates the hypothesis of the influence of predominantly intrapunitive or extrapunitive mechanisms of reaction to situations associated with the possibility of guilt on the autoaggressive profile of young people. Aim of the research: to find out the possible influence of the externally accusing and self-accusing position of young students on their suicidological characteristics. Materials and methods: there were two groups of young men of 100 people each who inclined to see their own guilt and participation in problem situations, and to blame external circumstances. The following methods were used: a questionnaire to identify auto-aggressive patterns and their predictors, a test for the diagnosis of psychological defense mechanisms (LifeStyleIndex), a parental prescription questionnaire. Nonparametric statistical methods of x2 and parametric methods of Student's t-test were used. Mathematical data processing was performed using the SPSS-Statistics software. Results: from suicidologist point of view, the extrapunitive group is undoubtedly of greater interest as they have suicidal thoughts more than twice as often (20% and 8%, respectively). The respondents in the same group are more prone to dangerous hobbies, unnecessary risks and alcohol abuse. Hypothymia (47% and 30%, respectively) and hopelessness (32% and 19%, respectively) were statistically significant more often in that group. Also, a very specific set of psychological defenses (repression, regression and substitution), as well as parental prescriptions that harmoniously complement their suicidological profile were found in the same group. Conclusions: The externally accusatory position in young male students increases the risk of autoaggressive behavior, which is of undoubted interest for suicidology, expanding our understanding of the theoretical constructs of autoaggressive behavior.