An Interpretation of Freud’s Ideas About Suicide (IN: Suicide and the Unconscious, edited by A A Leenaars & D Lester)

In this chapter, the authors trace the development of Freud’s understanding of how an individual can take his or her own life. To fully understand Freud’s contributions to the theory of suicide, it is also necessary to discuss his understanding of the development of the mind, including his changing conceptions of the unconscious & instinctual life. (11 refs.)