title: [Suicide in the Bible from the current psychodynamic viewpoint. "There Saul took a sword and fell upon it"].
abstract: After a short introduction to psychoanalytical interpretation of literature in general and in the Bible, the stories of Samson and King Saul are examined on the basis of modern psychoanalytical aspects of suicidology (narcissistic theory, object relation theory, self psychology). Samson's beginning is hallmarked by the uncertainty of his parents, their megalomanic fantasies which are projected on the child. His relationships are characterized by violent emotions, intensive conflicts on intimacy and distance and also raging anger at insults and privation. In his suicide he fuses himself with the highly ambivalent primary object and destroys it at the same time he destroys himself. People with narcissistic personality are considered to be extremely suicidal especially in combination with the destructive potency of narcissistic anger.
authors.affiliation: Therapiezentrum für Suizidgefährdete, Universitätskrankenhauses Eppendorf.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindner
mesh_terms: D001633:Bible; D006801:Humans; D009289:Narcissism; D009769:Object Attachment; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D012649:Self Concept; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*
vernacular_title: Suizide in der Bibel aus aktueller psychodynamischer Sicht. "Da nahm Saul das Schwert und stürzte sich hinein".