Myth: Suicide Is an Act of Anger, Aggression, or Revenge
It’s complicated. The myth is that suicide is an act of anger, aggression, or revenge – not related to. There is plenty of evidence discussing the relationship (positive correlation) between both anger and aggression to suicide. There is some evidence that suicide is sometimes used to communicate and bring shame on others – thus, revenge. However, these are historical or anecdotal accounts. Certainly, the majority of suicides don’t appear to be motivated directly by anger, aggression, or revenge.
Fact: Suicide Is an Act of Escape from Unbearable Pain and Suffering
The more commonly accepted reasons are that the person was encountering unbearable psychological or physical pain. This is often accompanied by hopelessness – a sense that it won’t get better.
Learn More
Coming soon.
Evidence
Plenty of research supports the association, yet no research proposes that all or a majority of deaths by suicide are caused by anger, aggression, or revenge.
In Support of the Myth
None identified.
To Refute the Myth
The fundamental premise of the book is that the reason for suicide is to stop psychological pain.
A book by Thomas Joiner that explores many myths.
Unclear or Mixed Support
"Association between anger and suicidal ideation" (2023)
“Both state externalized anger and trait angry temperament separately predicted suicidal ideation in separate univariate models. However, in a single multivariate model incorporating both externalized anger and angry temperament as simultaneous predictors, only angry temperament remained significant in predicting suicidal ideation.”
“We found that problems with anger were significantly related to subsequent SI and attempts, and these associations remained even when covarying for established risk factors for suicide such as history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, psychiatric comorbidities, and demographics.” The relationship with anger issues isn’t directly related to the myth that the suicide is an expression of anger.
Learn more about suicide myths – and the truths behind them – by following the links below.