Theories of Self-Destruction*

How does man destroy himself? To those who live and love life, this question has both philosophical and practical significance. Indeed, to understand the ways in wrich man moves himself toward death is to approach an understanding of life through its shadowy mirror image.

Many types of human activity have been called self-destructive. Psychiatrists and others have pointed to subtle interpersonal relationships which can be so characterized. Some believe that certain trends in the evolution of man (such as the movement into the machine age) are importantly self-destructive.

The theories presented in this paper were suggested by an extensive review of “psychological” literature — psychiatry, psychology and psychoanalysis, and the studies of sociologists. In addition, we drew upon our own experience and research done at the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center.

An interesting observation gleaned from the literature review was this: A number of authors have developed “theories” of self-destruction, perhaps the most prominent being Freud with his “death instinct.” Yet, insofar as could be discovered, these theoretical discussions always emphasized one issue (often with an evaluation of the inhibiting or enhancing effect of certain related forces). However, no evidence emerged concerning a complete or comprehensive theory of self-destruction. The purpose of this paper is to propose such an all-embracing categorization.

The following definition of self-destruction deals with the basic psychological facts and may be useful as a reference point: “Any activity over which man has some (actual or potential) volitional control which moves him in the direction of an earlier physical death than would otherwise occur is designated self-destructive.”

An analysis of the literature suggested three distinct theories of self-destruction. The first is that of the death instinct; the second, that of mental illness; and the third, that of adaptational failure.

Each broad category can