Apocalyptic suicide: from a pathological to an eschatological interpretation.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Apocalyptic suicide involves a shift of personal self and agency to the social self of the charismatic group.
Dein
Simon
S
Department of Psychiatry , University College London, UK. s.dein@ucl.ac.uk
Littlewood
Roland
R
D001290:Attitude; D002835:Christianity; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D012067:Religion; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D023481:Terrorism