Chapter
Self-Destructiveness in Other Species (IN: Suicide and Self-Damaging Behavior: a Sociobiological Perspective)
deCatanzaro D
This chapter discusses animal behaviour which is directly oriented toward or conducive to death. The author asserts self-destruction of a direct & unequivocal nature seems to only occur in the human species. The only time when animals appear to be self-destructive (without a secondary reason, like reproductive motivations) is when in captivity or other unnatural situations — although primates, other than humans, have shown possible self-destructive behaviour. (VM)