Killing Yourself the Right Way: Socio-cultural Suicide, Self-Transcendence and Ego-Dissolution as Substitutes for Biological Suicide
Jakob Damm
PsyArXiv November 16, 2024 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/6ugfs (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ego dissolution |
| Key points | Argues that suicidality reflects a profound rejection of life in its current form, with the true target being the individual's socio-cultural existence and self-concept rather than biological life. Proposes that suicide is a practical mistake rooted in overly identifying with one's historical and socio-cultural circumstances, and that health professionals should support individuals in redefining and rebuilding their lives rather than treating suicidality solely as a delusional symptom. |
Abstract
Suicide is a pressing global health issue, with alarming prevalence rates that have ledthe World Health Organization to prioritize its prevention. Traditionally, suicidality is framedwithin medicine as a delusional symptom of mental illness. Contrastingly, another perspectiveviews suicide as an expression of free will, emphasizing the legitimacy of its motivations.This paper seeks to reconcile these viewpoints by proposing that suicidality reflects aprofound rejection of life in its current form. Rather than endorsing the irreversible act ofbiological suicide, this perspective suggests the true target of rejection is the individual'ssocio-cultural existence and self-concept. Suicide, therefore, is a practical mistake, rooted inthe error of overly identifying with one's historical and socio-cultural circumstances.Recognizing this, health professionals might better support individuals by taking their desirefor transformation seriously—helping them redefine and rebuild their lives rather than merelyattempting to treat suicidality as a delusional symptom. If it is actually only this socio-cultural life that an individual wishes to end, then the focus should be on addressing thatwish.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on ego dissolution, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self unbound: ego dissolution in psychedelic experience | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ethics and ego dissolution: the case of psilocybin | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mystical and Other Alterations in Sense of Self: An Expanded Framework for Studying Nonordinary Experiences | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psychedelic medicalization, public discourse, and the morality of ego dissolution | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |