Jackass: The Movie a "desperate cry for help"

Dr Ruth Hentzbacher, a University of Tennessee psychology graduate, has seen the entire "Jackass" series, and the resulting movie, many times. But not for fun. Rather, she claims its participants are "troubled youths in need of nurturing and care." 'I've often heard young people speak about performing auto-mutilation to escape their difficult and confusing lives. But never before has such unambiguous masochism been filmed and shown to millions. This will definitely raise self-mutilation awareness. These kids are obviously numbing the pain of their dreary, banal lives with even stronger physical pain.' 'Either that, or they're a bunch of fucking idiots.'