Voluntary Death Research Articles

Samobójstwa wśród młodzieży jako problem kryminologiczny

Suicide is the subject of interest in many scientific disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, law, theology. A serious social problem is the growing number of young people who, in an act of desperation, lack of ability to cope with school and family problems, peer exclusion and low stress resistance, decide to take their own lives. Suicide in this aspect should be considered as a major social crisis of the 21st century. In criminological literature, it is seen as a type of voluntary death and an act of discontinuation of life. Suicide among young people is often preceded by a suicide attempt, which is a “call for help”, an attempt to draw attention to themselves, but above all an act of despair and rebellion against the reality they have to face. Suicidal risk factors intersect and complement each other. These include both those related to the suicidal person, as well as his or her personality traits, cognitive styles, genetic or biological conditions. An important role is played by those linked to the immediate environment, the family, the social group and the media. The aim of this article is to characterise the phenomenon of suicides in Poland with special attention to data on children and adolescents based on the statistics of the Police Headquarters. In addition, the authors attempt to provide a psychological portrait of the person who decides to commit suicide and to draw attention to suicide risk factors among adolescents.

Adevelop the Concept of Suicide in a Philosophical Context

Suicide-related issues are among those that have been the focus of philosophers of all time. The attitude to the problem of suicide as a social phenomenon from biblical times to the present should also be talked about by today's students, so the research work with gifted students will be effective, because today's children wonder who they are, what their mission is and the meaning of life and death raises the question of the social meaning of suicide. Philosophy and religion, law and duty, social and public are intertwined here. Christianity considers suicide a sin. Although there are examples in the Old Testament where cases of voluntary death look like heroic deeds. Suicide becomes an absolutely sinful act at a certain historical time, when it has become too frequent. Adjustments to Christian ethics with its prohibitions were made by the Enlightenment and the right to shorten one’s life became one’s personal choice. The article presents the research of gifted students on the question of attitudes towards suicide from ancient times to the Middle Ages (group 1); attitudes towards suicide from the Middle Ages to the present (group 2); attitudes towards suicide from the New Age to the present (group 3). The research work is carried out for the purpose of condemning any manifestations of suicidal behavior, deep understanding of this problem from the most ancient times to the present.

The woman saved from stoning: An answer to scapegoats and scapegoating

According to René Girard, Jesus is the scapegoat to end all scapegoats. The Gospels reveal that his voluntary death as an innocent scapegoat unmasks the scapegoating process in which human societies participate and frees humanity from its power. Jesus’s passion is not the only episode from the Gospels that provides an antidote to scapegoating. In the story of the woman saved from stoning (John 8:2-11), Jesus calms a scapegoating storm, de-escalates a mob, and thwarts the scapegoaters. Jesus removes the scapegoat target from the woman’s back and focuses attention where it belongs: on the wrongs of the accusers. In his interactions with the woman, Jesus frees her from blame and treats her like a human being made in the image of God, not an object to be used. Jesus offers a glimpse into how to create a future without scapegoating, a future in which we turn our gazes to our own sins and treat those who are marginalized and targeted for blame not as scapegoats but as image-bearers worthy of love.

From “Mors Pro Summo Munere Desideretur” to “Occidere Se Ipsum”: An Overall Approach to Augustine on Suicide

This article aims to offer an overview of the problem of suicide in Augustine of Hippo, from the anti-Manichean texts of the late 380s CE to De ciuitate dei and the rejoinder to Gaudentium (Contra Gaudentium). A transversal analysis of the evolution of the concept of voluntary death throughout the work of Augustine allows us to identify up to four different conceptions of suicide, each of them corresponding to a rather well-defined chronological period: a philosophical conception, that we find in De libero arbitrio; a moral one, that we can excerpt from De mendacio; a polemical approach in the context of controversy against Donatism, which we can retrace in a set of writings from 400 to 412 CE, and especially in Contra epistulam Parmeniani; and, finally, the conception of suicide as homicide, that appears in De ciuitate dei and that will define the decisive and most widespread doctrine of Augustine in this matter. In this way, this paper aims to enrich, from a transversal and chronological perspective, the studies that have been carried out over the last decades on suicide in Augustine.

:Joy of the Worm: Suicide and Pleasure in Early Modern English Literature

:<i>Joy of the Worm: Suicide and Pleasure in Early Modern English Literature</i>

Death-Defying: Voluntary Death as Honorable Ideal in the German-Japanese Alliance

In August 1942, an internal Sicherheitsdienst (SD) memorandum raised concerns surrounding the media currently circulating in Germany about its Asian ally: “The previous view, that the German soldier is the best in the world, has become somewhat confused by descriptions of the Japanese swimmers who removed mines laid outside Hong Kong, or of the death-defying Japanese pilots who swooped down upon enemy ships with their bombs. This has resulted in something a bit like an inferiority complex. The Japanese look like a kind of ‘Super-Teuton’ [Germane im Quadrat].” In its anxiety that the German public might be taking the wrong lessons from the incessant drumbeat of positive news coverage around Japan's string of victories in the winter of 1941–1942, this statement speaks to the ambivalent position of the Japanese within Nazi propaganda. On the one hand, these images of Japanese self-sacrificial loyalty to the nation reaffirmed the patterns of behavior and thought commonly valorized in the Nazi regime's captive media. At the same time, the reality that it was the Japanese—and not the Germans themselves—performing these feats of valor raised the comparison that the author found so demoralizing, and potentially even destabilizing. Nevertheless, despite the author's reservations, the conclusion was that this media's benefits outweighed the political risks because of its utility in highlighting the “inner weaknesses of Europe” for those elements of the German public still skeptical of National Socialism. In effect, the memorandum conceded, images of Japanese heroism could be persuasive as propaganda because they revealed the weakness and corruption endemic to Western modernity by contrast, which in turn affirmed the Nazi regime's decision to stake its future on a utopian “counter-modernity” framed around a synthesis of völkisch cultural authenticity and technological modernism.

The Ultimate Freedom? Suicide as ‘Exit Strategy’ in Marco Bellocchio’s Il regista di matrimoni (2006) and Sorelle Mai (2010)

ABSTRACT This article examines the portrayal of suicide in two films by Marco Bellocchio, Il regista di matrimoni (2006) and Sorelle Mai (2010). I first suggest that voluntary death represents in Bellocchio's work an ‘exit strategy' that allows his characters to overcome an existential and ideological deadlock. I then turn to the implications of such a radical gesture, situating it within the millennia-old debates surrounding the topic of suicide. Finally, I examine the two case studies, teasing out their cultural, social, and political significance. In Il regista di matrimoni, the character's suicide is targeted at disrupting the clientelist system governing Italian cultural life. In Sorelle Mai, the suicidal character opts instead for a spectacular self-sacrifice, for an ending that is also a return to his origins. Overall, in Bellocchio’s films, suicide comes to be a locus of tension and resolution, a marriage of opposite impulses marked by ambiguity and undecidability.

The Phoenix Complex

The Phoenix Complex

Conclusion: The Narrow Road to Martyrdom

Abstract The conclusion of this collection of studies endeavors to recapture five major questions that this special issue of the Journal of Jesuit Studies poses on the subject of martyrdom: Is this gesture a form of imitation of Christ (or imitatio Christi) or is it itself a sacrifice? How does it get rid of the shadow of suicide or voluntary death? How do the singularity of its experience and the community within which and in the name of which it is exercised articulate? Can martyrdom be defined as a renunciation of human love, and in this sense as the ultimate step in a process of conversion? How does martyrdom take its place in the writing of the religious history of the modern era, in particular, as far as the Society of Jesus is concerned, in the historiography of the nineteenth century? These five questions open this collection of essays to a field of research that remains to be pursued.

КРИМІНОЛОГІЧНА ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ТА ЗАПОБІГАННЯ СУЇЦИДУ СЕРЕД ВІЙСЬКОВОСЛУЖБОВЦІВ

It has been found that suicide in Ukraine is the seventh leading cause of death, which confirms the criticality of the problem and the need to solve it as soon as possible. Today, there is a need to support such categories of people as children and youth, servicemen, convicts and the elderly. The need to unite the efforts of all services that ensure the viability of military units was identified. The study of suicide in the armed forces has shown that suicide prevention is comprehensive and can only be addressed through the joint efforts of physicians, psychologists, social workers, commanders of all levels and officers of educational institutions. It has been found that suicide is usually carried out of desperation, in protest to preserve self-esteem, as a result of obscuration of the mind to avoid pain or revenge. Poverty, unemployment, loss of loved ones and problems in family relationships are also areas at risk of voluntary death and, most importantly, experts do not have the full amount of accurate statistics on the number of "successful" attempts to leave this world. The increased social danger and high latency of suicide of servicemen have been determined. It is emphasized that the criminal law subgroup consists of determinants, which, unlike most general social determinants, arise from the direct influence of some individuals on others and the main complication is that such influence is intentional, covered by cruel, immoral nature of in connection with which entails socially dangerous consequences. The main reasons and conditions that contribute to suicide are named. It is proved that suicide prevention in the Armed Forces of Ukraine should be based on knowledge of probable causes and their elimination. The basis of prevention is high morality. It is necessary to achieve the utmost respect for others, taking into account personal dignity. Conduct educational work, including religious education.

Elysian Landscapes and Cultural Self-Fashioning in Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's Letters from Turkey and Italy

Abstract: This article traces Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's repeated references to the Ancient Greek afterworld, Elysium, in her accounts of her respective residences in Turkey in 1717 and Italy from 1739 until 1756. I argue that Montagu uses Elysium to construct a distinctly feminine discourse about traveling, reimagining it as a voluntary death that releases her from social roles and national affiliation. Montagu's evolving discussion of Elysium coincides with her self-fashioning as an authoritative woman travel writer, who offers an alternative to the superficial cultural engagement of the eighteenth-century male Grand Tourist.

The death of Adumissa: a suicide at Cape Coast, Ghana, around 1800

AbstractThis article examines the history of voluntary death on the Gold Coast in present-day Ghana. Its focus is the suicide of a young woman named Adwoa Amissa (or Adumissa), who took her own life in dramatic fashion in the town of Cape Coast in the early nineteenth century. Adumissa killed herself in response to the earlier suicide of a thwarted suitor, who declared his own self-destruction to be ‘on her head’, thereby transferring the responsibility to her. These events, which were recorded by Sarah Bowdich, an English resident of Cape Coast in 1816–18, made Adumissa a legendary figure in the Fante region of the Gold Coast and beyond. Despite the interpretive complexities of Bowdich's text, two aspects of the episode reveal themselves as central to an understanding of its cultural context: the impact of the spoken word and the practice of aggressive ‘revenge suicide’ among the Akan and their neighbours. It is within this culturally meaningful and contingent framework that questions about Adumissa's emotional impulses, motivations and agency must be situated.

Leaving Life at the Right Time

This paper aims to discuss the coherence and consistency of the Stoic and the Nietzschean “art of dying at the right time”. Throughout this paper, we will use this expression to refer to the Stoics’ and Nietzsche’s treatment both of involuntary and voluntary death, inasmuch as both seem to be strongly connected to and grounded on the notion of timeliness. Taking this notion as a guiding thread, we will emphasize the several similarities that link their approach to suicide. Indeed, as will be shown, it is plausible to assume that Nietzsche’s understanding of voluntary death is particularly influenced by the Stoic tradition. At the same time, we will point out the relevant differences that make these two approaches differ. In dealing with the Stoic and the Nietzschean attitude towards suicide, the underlying question will be whether the legitimization and defense of voluntary death is compatible—and if so, to which extent—with their teachings, in particular, with their notions of happiness and affirmation of life, on the one hand, and their ideals of living in accordance with nature and amor fati, on the other.

THE RIGHT TO LIFE FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF PERSONAL AUTONOMY IN DECISION-MAKING ON EUTHANASIA (REVIEW OF THE ECHR PRACTICE AND THE LEGISLATION OF SELECTED COUNTRIES)

The aim: To analyze law enforcement practice on the basis of the national legislation of foreign states to single out features of legal regulation of the right to euthanasia realization and to outline the Ukrainian prospects of euthanasia legalization. Materials and methods: The empirical basis of the research is the legislation of some European countries (Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands) and Canada; decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on the right to voluntary death and the obligations of states; the results of a survey of 750 respondents conducted by the authors. The methodological basis of the study were philosophical views on life, death, and the right to certainty, formal-logical method (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, etc.), comparative, analytical, statistical, sociological methods of cognition, as well as a synergetic approach. Conclusions: The issue of legal regulation of euthanasia is multifactorial, socially conditioned, and requires a positive action of the state both in terms of regulation and/or prohibition, and the proper provision of citizens with health care. Legislative support for the human right to a “dignified death” is dictated, to some extent, by society’s demand, which must be finally resulted in the draft law. As for Ukraine, the adoption of such a law is obviously premature. Although according to a survey of citizens on euthanasia and the feasibility of introducing such a law in Ukraine, 57% are positive about the experience of other countries, and 41% were in favor of adopting a law in Ukraine, it is not possible to assess their opinion due to ignorance of legislation where euthanasia is allowed.

Learning to Die: Analysis of The Cultural Role of Voluntary Death

Voluntary death is a morally and legally grey area in many countries around the world. In my research I studied the topic of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Italy. Specifically, I analyzed the relationship between collective law and individual morality using as case study the phenomenon of voluntary death, which has been making people talk about itself in recent years precisely because of its as yet undefined nature. Using a qualitative approach i.e., semi-structured interview, I listened the voices of a representative sample of Italian doctors in order to collect the opinion of the medical class i.e., the social group that would be most affected by the possible legalization of euthanasia. It has emerged, among other things, that Italy lacks a real education to death. The research has opened a reflection on the range of voluntary death within a Nation where it is illegal. Numerous studies have determined the enormous symbolic baggage present within the concept of death, but in the study of the legalization of voluntary death a new factor has emerged: a legalization is not desired until the population receives a real education on the idea of having to die. Like sex, death is still a taboo in many societies around the world. Is it therefore necessary to fulfill a death education before even start to talk about creating a general law. This research has exalted not only a cultural deficiency but also the desire to remedy it through education, in order to exorcise the fear of an event that sooner or later everyone has to face.

DO STOCK MARKET FLUCTUATIONS AFFECT SUICIDE RATES?

AbstractIn this study, we extend the standard economic model of suicide by considering a new influential factor driving the voluntary death rate. Using an international sample, we estimate the model and document a robust and significant inverse relation between stock market returns and the percentage increase in suicide rates. Trends in male and female suicide are affected by market fluctuations, both contemporaneously and at a lag. This predictive quality of stock returns offers the potential to implement pro‐active suicide prevention strategies for those who could be affected by the vagaries of the market and general economic downturns.

Suicidality and the Vagaries of the Stock Market

In this study, we extend the standard economic model of suicide by considering a new influential factor driving the voluntary death rate. Using an international sample, we estimate the model and document a robust and significant inverse relationship between stock market returns and the percentage increase in suicide rates. Trends in male and female suicide are affected by market fluctuations both contemporaneously and at a lag. This predictive quality of stock returns offers the potential to implement pro-active suicide prevention strategies for those who could be affected by the vagaries of the market and general economic downturns.

Euthanasia as a worldwide dilemma of modern times

Nowadays, the most important place in medicine is occupied by ethical and legal aspects of organization of medical care and the provision of qualitative medical services to citizens. The main mechanism of functioning of the patient-centric health care system is implementation of the rights of patients as described in our country within the framework of international legal acts, the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Civil, the Civil Procedure and Criminal Codes of the Russian Federation, as well as the Legislation on the protection of health of citizen. Since the mid of twentieth century, in many countries was widely discussed possibility of ensuring one of the most controversial and non-obvious rights of patient - the right to death. In medical practice, the mechanisms implementing this right are the acts of euthanasia, the assisted suicide, the voluntary death (refusal of water and food), "murder out of sympathy", terminal sedation and the phenomenon of "double effect" as well. The article presents review of scientific publications presented in national and international databases, highlighting prerequisites of implementation of euthanasia into practice and international experience of applying this mechanism of demise as well.

The impact of online death literacy education on psychology students to have better end‐of‐life conversations

ObjectiveThe role of psychologists is relatively invisible at end‐of‐life (EOL) and lack of training has been cited as one important reason for this. Contrasting the medicalisation of death, a new term Death Literacy references communities regaining knowledge and familiarity with the dying process. The aim of this study is to assess the impact on postgraduate students participating in a voluntary Online Death Literacy Education Module (ODELM).MethodsUsing a mixed methods, quasi‐experimental, repeated measure design, the current research paper measures the self‐reported Death Literacy of 86 post‐graduate psychology students.ResultsThe results found that psychology students' overall Death Literacy increased significantly, in addition, to the specific dimensions of knowledge and comfort in having EOL conversations. Further, exposure to Death Literacy training significantly increased participants' interest in EOL concerns and enhanced their perceptions of its relevance to the role of psychologists. Qualitative findings support a high level of engagement and interest in this sensitive and emotionally challenging topic for students, particularly in having EOL conversations with children.DiscussionThis study shows that online delivery is an effective way to deliver Death Literacy content, particularly for fifth‐year psychology students, who benefited most from gaining professional development hours towards provisional psychologist registration. Case studies and videos stimulated reflections on both the personal and professional dimensions of EOL supporting increased Death Literacy of participants.ConclusionThe strong interest and positive engagement in EOL expressed by emerging psychologists augurs well for their increased involvement in EOL care across the lifespan.

Morte do duplo, morte de si: o suicídio em três narrativas góticas do século 19

Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar como o suicídio é representado nas narrativas O retrato de Dorian Gray, de Oscar Wilde, O estranho caso de Dr. Jekyll e mr. Hyde, de robert louis stevenson, e “William Wilson”, de Edgar Allan Poe, considerando que todas as três apresentam situações sobrenaturais, relacionadas à figura do duplo. Além de observar essa profunda relação entre a morte voluntária e o duplo em termos de narrativa, procuraremos também desenvolver uma discussão mais contextual sobre o tema do suicídio no século 19. O referencial teórico será fornecido por Bravo (2005) e Benyon-Payne (2015), entre outros.