TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2005//
TI  - Apocalyptic suicide: from a pathological to an eschatological interpretation
JO  - International journal of social psychiatry
A1  - Dein, Simon
A1  - Littlewood, Roland
SP  - 198
EP  - 210
VL  - 51
IS  - 3
N2  - 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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0020-7640
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -