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International Journal of Social Psychiatry
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Apocalyptic Suicide: From a Pathological to an Eschatological Interpretation

Simon Dein

Departments of Psychiatry and Anthropology, University College London; Derwent Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Hamstel Road, Harlow, Essex CM26 1VX, UKs.dein{at}ucl.ac.uk

Roland Littlewood

Departments of Psychiatry and Anthropology, University College London.

Background: The authors examine the possible interpretations of apocalyptic suicide – a form of suicide amongst a group which believes that the world will end imminently.

Material: Through a literature search the authors identify a number of paradigmatic cases exemplifying this phenomenon including Jonestown, Waco, The Order of the Solar Temple and Heaven's Gate.

Discussion: Interpretations of apocalyptic suicide might consider individual factors – the most common approach – but also the social and eschatological themes which are found in the group's ideological work. Religious violence (including suicide) may be precipitated in a dialectical interaction between group members and the perceived outside world. We consider here the ideological aspects that commonly lead to a dualist epistemology for the group.

Conclusion: Apocalyptic suicide involves a shift of personal self and agency to the social self of the charismatic group.

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Vol. 51, No. 3, 198-210 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0020764005056762
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