Altruistic Suicides: Are They the Same or Different from Other Suicides?

Authors: Leenaars, Antoon¹; Wenckstern, Susanne²

Source: Archives of Suicide Research, Volume 8, Number 1, January–March 2004 , pp. 131-136(6)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

Suicidology is not alone in wrestling with the question, ‘who are the altruistic suicides?' A review of a series of studies published in Archives of Suicide Research , suggests that maybe they are not different from other suicides. They are suicides; a case study of a “martyr” note reveals a suicide note. Emile Durkheim's sociological taxonomy suggests that the difference is probably on the outside, the social world. Yet, who decides what is honorable or not? Who are the suicide bombers? Martyrs? Terrorists? It appears that society(ies) defines the event, probably not the psychological aspects of the suicide(s). More research is, however, needed, but there are many obstacles to such study.

Keywords: Altruistic suicide; suicide bomber; suicides; definition; society; difference

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13811110490243831

Affiliations: 1: Department of Public Health Services, Karolinska Institute, Sweden 2: , Windsor, Canada

Publication date: 2004-01-01