Self-punishment can take many forms, from negative self-talk to self-injury. Why do people punish themselves? Research in social psychology suggests there are three major reasons why people might choose to punish themselves. “I deserve to suffer.” Most people want to feel good, but people with low self-esteem can believe they don’t deserve to feel good. “Suffering will make me a better person.” People can use pain as a means of cleansing undesirable aspects of the self. “I’m supposed to suffer.” People sometimes choose to suffer when they expect to suffer, even if they haven’t done anything wrong, assuming they deserve it or that they must endure it.Read the full article here: No Pain, No Gain: The Psychology of Self-Punishment