Aggression and self-harm have traditionally been examined as distinct psychological phenomena. However, growing evidence indicates that these behaviours often co-occur, especially among individuals in clinical and justice-involved populations. This co-occurrence, known as dual harm, is associated with distinct characteristics, including elevated risk and more complex, disruptive behavioural pattern. Currently, the most prominent explanatory framework for understanding dual harm is the Cognitive-Emotional Model of Dual-Harm. This model highlights potential distal factors (e.g., environmental influences), proximal processes (e.g., social context), and feedback loops that sustain these behaviours. It emphasizes the role of personality style and explores how dual harm may serve interpersonal and emotion-regulation functions.
This talk introduces a research project examining the determinants of dual harm, guided by the Cognitive-Emotional Model as its theoretical framework. The project is highly relevant to health psychology—supporting more accurate assessments, informing more effective interventions, and ultimately contributing to improved mental health and well-being among at-risk youth.