Suicides, psychology and bonds: a psychosocial reading

Abstract

Thinking suicide as an existential continuous with different degrees (first degrees - unconscious fantasies; intermediate degrees - suicide attempts; extreme degrees - fatal suicide), this article aims primarily at discussing the approaches of Freud and Jung on the subject. Moreover, it attempts to associate suicide to psychological processes, centered on bonding. These are basically seen as a bonding pattern initiated within the family group (primary socialization). Therefore, a pattern characterized by disruption (a difficulty to allow its members to differentiate themselves) at this first level tends to be repeated during the secondary socialization events: conjugal, work, education, religion relationships, etc. Thus, without proper support, in some cases, this difficulty can lead to attempts or fatal suicides. This issue as well as its psychosocial processes will be discussed particularly through the institutional approach of Bastos (2001b), Bleger (1984), Guirado (2004).