for myself, i had not even heard of SI until a year after i started cutting, and 12 years after I first really started hurting myself. Even now it is something that is NEVER talked about anywhere in our country as far as i know and something that i am guessing the majority of the country knows nothing about. So certainly for ME social influences had nothing to do with my behaviours, and especially not at the age of 6 living in a very sheltered, 'the word 'mental' is taboo' family...