Cited by 1,919Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesDeath Anxiety and Social ExclusionPsychological Treatments and Disorders

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Suicide as escape from self.

Baumeister, Roy F.·1990·Psychological Review

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Abstract

Suicide is analyzed in terms of motivations to escape from aversive self-awareness. The causal chain begins with events that fall severely short of standards and expectations. These failures are attributed internally, which makes self-awareness painful. Awareness of the self's inadequacies generates negative affect, and the individual therefore desires to escape from self-awareness and the associated affect. The person tries to achieve a state of cognitive deconstruction (constricted temporal focus, concrete thinking, immediate or proximal goals, cognitive rigidity, and rejection of meaning), which helps prevent meaningful self-awareness and emotion. The deconstructed state brings irrationality and disinhibition, making drastic measures seem acceptable. Suicide can be seen as an ultimate step in the effort to escape from self and world.

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BackgroundMethodInfluential
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Background
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Background
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Background
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Background
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“Another important finding is related to how talk or action of “death as a threat” was expressed as an explicit response to a need of escape in a situation of intolerable pressure (Baumeister, 1990).”
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Self-destructive processes and suicide.
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“At one extreme, suicide is centrally concerned with escape from self-awareness (Baumeister, 1990).”
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“This finding also fits within the framework of suicide representing an escape from psychological pain (Baumeister, 1990).”
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BIS sensitivity, BAS sensitivity, and recent suicide attempts
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Castro‐Ramirez, F., Pérez, M. A. P., McGuire, T. C., Rankin, O., García-Alfaro, M. C., Melchor-Audirac, A., Campuzano, M. L. G., Coady, P., Núñez-Delgado, M. J., Mañaná, J., et al. (2023) · Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.jbct.2023.04.001 · Cited by 13
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“Baumeister (based on earlier theory created in 19070’s by Jean Baechler) proposed understanding of suicide as a consequence of a sequence of six casually related phases of the so-called decision tree [34, 45]:”
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“It may be that it is only when adolescents are experiencing severe depression symptoms in addition to poor emotion regulation skills that they feel completely hopeless, withdrawn, and upset, increasing the likelihood of using suicide thoughts as a means of coping [ 70].”
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“Baumeister (1990) theorized that suicidal behaviors reflect an individual’s desiring to escape from bothersome psychological pain.”
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Within the confines of character: A review of suicidal behavior and personality style.
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“The association between the Flight type and the intent to die was expected by Baechler and fits with the view that suicide is a form of escape (Baumeister, 1990).”
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“Positive self-representations were found to associate with better behavioral adjustment and diminished symptomatology (Baumeister, 1990; Damon & Hart, 1988; King, Naylor, Segal, Evans, & Shain, 1993; Segal & Blatt, 1993) and children’s representations of relationships were reported to correlate with adjustment in midd…”
Background
Cognitive Biases and Suicidal Ideation in Elderly Psychiatric Inpatients
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“Various models exist, suggesting cognitive factors contribute in part to the development of suicidal thoughts (e.g., Baumeister, 1990; Beck, 1967; Clum, Patsiokas, & Luscomb, 1979; Neuringer, 1964).”
Background
An acceptance and commitment therapy approach to adolescent suicide.
Murrell, A. R., Al-Jabari, R., Moyer, D., Novamo, E., & Connally, M. L. (2014) · International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy · doi:10.1037/h0101639 · Cited by 12
“viewed as the most extreme form of EA (Chiles & Strosahl, 2005; Luoma & Villatte, 2012), with behaviors like social isolation and giving away prized possessions being lesser forms of avoidance (APA, 1996) and suicide being the ultimate attempt at controlling psychological pain (Shneidman, 1993) and difficult self-awar…”
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“In the escape theory of suicide, suicide is viewed as the attempt to escape from painful thoughts and feelings about themselves and the situation [60].”
Background
Randomized controlled trial investigating web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with suicidal ideation
Burback, L., Yap, S., Purdon, S. E., Abba‐Aji, A., O’Shea, K., Brémault‐Phillips, S., Greenshaw, A. J., & Winkler, O. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1361086 · Cited by 12
“Suicidal ideation crosses diagnostic boundaries, and psychological theories explaining the basis of suicide are transdiagnostic (44 – 46).”
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The narrative crisis model of suicide: A review of empirical evidence for an innovative dynamic model of suicide and a comparison with other theoretical frameworks
Bloch‐Elkouby, S., Rogers, M. L., Goncearenco, I., Yanez, N., Nemeroff, C. B., Chennapragada, L., Cohen, L. J., & GALYNKER, I. I. (2024) · Personalized Medicine in Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pmip.2024.100131 · Cited by 13
Perfectionism and suicidal ideation: the serial mediating roles of appearance-based rejection sensitivity and loneliness
Zhao, W. X., Wu, A. M. S., Feng, C., Yu, K. G., Wang, Z., & Jiao, K. (2024) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-024-06230-y · Cited by 14
“Baumeister (1990) posited that high personal standards and high expectations imposed by others can set off a chain of events (e.g., acute disappointment when reality falls short of these standards; seeing oneself as blameworthy or inad - equate), leading to suicide.”

Authors: Baumeister, R. F.
Affiliations: Case Western Reserve University (US)
Corresponding author: Baumeister, Roy F.
ORCID: Baumeister, Roy F.
Venue: Psychological Review
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1990
Volume: 97
Issue: 1
Pages: 90-113
ISSN: 0033-295X (ISSN-L)
1939-1471
DOI: 10.1037/0033-295x.97.1.90
OpenAlex: W2098559214
Cited by: 1,919
References: 212
Citations by year: 2026: 91 · 2025: 137 · 2024: 129 · 2023: 116 · 2022: 100 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 105 · 2019: 88 · 2018: 89 · 2017: 95 · 2016: 78 · 2015: 92 · 2014: 85 · 2013: 81 · 2012: 67
FWCI: 13.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychological Review (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Disorders
Keywords: suicide, self-awareness, negative affect, internal attribution, self-justification, disinhibition, irrationality, meaning, temporal focus, concrete thinking, cognitive rigidity
MeSH terms: Depressive Disorder, Escape Reaction, Humans, Self Concept, Suicide, Suicide, Attempted

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