Abstract

FRAZAO, Pedro. De Dido a Dédalo: reflexões sobre o Mito do Suicídio Romântico na Adolescência. Aná. Psicológica [online]. 2003, vol.21, n.4, pp.453-464. ISSN 0870-8231.

The myth of suicide for love or romantic suicide prevails in the contemporary society with particular incidence on the explanations about adolescent suicide and attempted suicide. In this paper we try to question this idea, reflecting upon three major issues: 1) the historical and cultural roots of romantic suicide in Western civilization; 2) the stereotypes that view adolescence as a time of crisis and as a consequence a particularly vulnerable time for romantic suicide; 3) the misleading interpretations about the suicide behavior in adolescence that often establish a linear connection between romantic disruptions and suicide and attempted suicide. Assuming a critical view about the issues presented above we also try to outline the inherent complexity of adolescent suicide and attempted suicide. In this vein, we stress the need to view the adolescent suicide behaviors in the context of the developmental tasks of this life cycle stage.

Keywords : Romantic suicide; suicide and attempted suicide; adolescence.

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