Suicide and Homicide (IN: A Physiological Basis for Personality Traits: a new Theory of Personality, by D Lester)

This chapter examines suicide as an act of inward-directed aggression & contrasts the act with outward-directed aggression. Henry & Short’s theory on inward directed aggression found two psychological correlates of oriented aggression in people: low superego & a psychological response to stress similar to the effects of nor-adrenalin. Henry & Short’s findings are contrasted to various empirical studies on the personality of suicide victims & murderers. (12 refs.) (AK)