Year: 1981 Source: New York: Academic Press Inc., 1981. pp.39-45 SIEC No: 19900670

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)