SELF-COMFORTING BEHAVIOURS ACROSS THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS: A 50-YEAR SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF PATTERNS, MECHANISMS, AND SOCIO-CULTURAL INFLUENCES

Аннотация

INTRODUCTION their enduring role in human adaptation (Suomi, Self-comforting behaviours encompass a range of 2002; Schore, 2003). In infancy, these actions are conscious or unconscious actions individuals often innate responses to distress, such as sucking employ to regulate emotions, manage stress, and or clinging to a caregiver. As individuals mature, maintain a sense of security. These behaviours self-comforting strategies become more complex manifest in various forms, encompassing physical, and nuanced, reflecting cognitive and emotional cognitive, and social dimensions. Physical development. For instance, adolescents may manifestations include actions such as thumb- engage in self-soothing behaviours like listening to sucking, blanket clutching, or repetitive music or spending time in nature, while adults movements like rocking. Cognitive strategies might rely on hobbies, exercise, or meditation to involve internal processes like positive self-talk, manage stress and maintain wellbeing. visualization, or problem-solving. Social behaviours, such as seeking support from loved Researchers from various disciplines, including ones, also fall under the umbrella of self- psychology, developmental science, and comforting mechanisms. psychiatry, have taken an interest in these behaviours. Although often overlooked or The prevalence of self-comforting behaviours considered transitory, self-comforting behaviours extends from infancy to adulthood, highlighting https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajssei 53 THE USA JOURNALS THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION INNOVATIONS (ISSN- 2689-100X) VOLUME 06 ISSUE12 serve crucial functions in emotional regulation, psychology to elucidate the multifaceted nature of stress management, and maintaining a sense of these behaviours. Synthesizing findings from these wellbeing (Feldman, 2007). While self-comforting diverse perspectives will allow us to illuminate the behaviours typically serve as adaptive coping complex interplay of biological, psychological, and mechanisms, their excessive or maladaptive use environmental factors influencing the emergence, can contribute to psychological distress development, and function of self-comforting (Kalinowski & Leibenluft, 2016). For example, behaviours. By examining studies that explore self- excessive thumb-sucking in childhood or comforting behaviours within different theoretical compulsive nail-biting in adulthood may indicate frameworks—such as attachment theory, stress underlying emotional difficulties. Moreover, the and coping, infant development, psychopathology, reliance on certain self-comforting behaviours, cognitive-behavioural theory, and psychodynamic such as substance use or avoidance coping, can theory—common themes and patterns can be have detrimental consequences for overall health identified to construct a more comprehensive and wellbeing. understanding of the phenomenon. Self-comforting behaviours become particularly Attachment Theory and Self-Comforting salient in the face of adverse life events, such as the Behaviours loss of a loved one, near-death experiences, loss of Attachment theory, pioneered by John Bowlby, investment, or academic failure (Mine, 2014). provides a foundational framework for These challenging experiences often trigger understanding the development of self-comforting increased reliance on self-comforting behaviours behaviours (Bowlby, 1969). Secure attachment as a means of coping with intense emotional fosters a sense of safety and security, reducing the distress and uncertainty (Skinner et al., 2016). need for excessive self-comforting. Conversely, Understanding how self-comforting behaviours insecure attachment styles, characterized by function during such times can provide deeper anxiety or avoidance, may lead to increased insights into their adaptive and maladaptive roles. reliance on self-soothing mechanisms (Ainsworth, Understanding the complex interplay between Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). self-comforting behaviours, individual differences, Self-comforting behaviours can serve as and environmental factors is crucial for developing proximity-seeking mechanisms, attempting to effective interventions and promoting mental recreate the soothing presence of a caregiver health. By exploring the various forms, functions, (Beebe et al., 2010). For instance, a child might and outcomes of self-comforting behaviours, clutch a blanket associated with bedtime routines, researchers can gain valuable insights into human evoking feelings of security and comfort. In adults, behaviour and develop strategies to support self-comforting behaviours might manifest as individuals in developing healthy coping repetitive actions, such as nail-biting or hair- mechanisms. twirling, especially when faced with stress or To fully comprehend the complexities of self- uncertainty, such as the loss of a loved one or comforting behaviours, it is imperative to examine significant life changes. the