Objective: To compare well established antecedents and correlates of completed suicide with the motives and the mechanics reported in Greek mythology. Method: A well-known collection of Greek myths, the Book of fables by Hyginus, was explored to investigate the mechanics driving an individual to imagine, design and carry out a suicide attempt. Results: Females outnumber males in the mythographer's list, their favourite methods to die being drowning, hanging, self-burning and throwing themselves down from on high. Some kind of familial recurrence of suicide was accounted for, and a large percentage of these suicides was connected to incest. Shame, sense of guilt and grief for the death of a loved one are the most frequently reported psychological correlates of the act, whereas defeat, failure or a catastrophic change in living conditions and, among females, an unfortunate love affair figure as the main antecedents of suicide. Conclusion: Negative life events and emotional reactions to the severing of social ties frequently occur as antecedents of suicide in Greek mythology. Copyright © Blackwell Munksgaard 2005.

Suicide in classical mythology: Cues for prevention

Preti A.;
2005-01-01

Abstract

Objective: To compare well established antecedents and correlates of completed suicide with the motives and the mechanics reported in Greek mythology. Method: A well-known collection of Greek myths, the Book of fables by Hyginus, was explored to investigate the mechanics driving an individual to imagine, design and carry out a suicide attempt. Results: Females outnumber males in the mythographer's list, their favourite methods to die being drowning, hanging, self-burning and throwing themselves down from on high. Some kind of familial recurrence of suicide was accounted for, and a large percentage of these suicides was connected to incest. Shame, sense of guilt and grief for the death of a loved one are the most frequently reported psychological correlates of the act, whereas defeat, failure or a catastrophic change in living conditions and, among females, an unfortunate love affair figure as the main antecedents of suicide. Conclusion: Negative life events and emotional reactions to the severing of social ties frequently occur as antecedents of suicide in Greek mythology. Copyright © Blackwell Munksgaard 2005.
2005
111
5
384
391
Greek world/history; Incest; Mythology; Narration; Prevention; Suicide
Preti A.; Miotto P.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Suicide in classical mythology Cues for prevention.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipo di file: PDF EDITORIALE
Dimensione 113.48 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
113.48 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1797659
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 13
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact