Discussion Is there an evolutionary reason why people are against suicide?

[nigelhernandez]

Talking to people in real life and reading online forums it seems that suicide is as condemned worldwide as incest. I know incest has a biological reason that people are against it so I wonder, is that the same for suicide?

I've heard theories from evolutionary psychology on suicide. Some say it can actually increase evolutionary fitness of a tribe if older, weaker people kill themselves but the reality is that most people that do it are between 15-35 which is reproductive age and thus doesn't increase evolutionary fitness. So the reason suicide is condemned is because it's a waste of resources. A net loss for a society.

 

[Quarky00]

most people that do it are between 15-35

Overall , highest suicide rates (deaths) are 45-64 for women and 75+ for men .

Rates for repeated attempts are highest at 15-24 for females , 55-59 for males .

 

[SpottedPanda]

I think it's simply due down to the one command we have in our genetic make up, and that every living creature has. The command is 'survive'.

Suicide tends to go against that very in built primal drive, and sets alarm bells off amongst the tribe. We strive to survive collectively, as we're social animals.

 

[nigelhernandez]

I think it's simply due down to the one command we have in our genetic make up, and that every living creature has. The command is 'survive'.

Suicide tends to go against that very in built primal drive, and sets alarm bells off amongst the tribe. We strive to survive collectively, as we're social animals.

Can you also explain why it's called selfish (I accept it probably is) even if everything we generally do is out of concern for the self? How is it different than getting an abortion.

 

[SpottedPanda]

Can you also explain why it's called selfish (I accept it probably is) even if everything we generally do is out of concern for the self? How is it different than getting an abortion.

I think it's considered selfish because we're communal animals. We think about what's collectively good for the tribe. And, unfortunately or not, ending a life that could somehow or some way be a constructive contributor for the tribe's efforts is considered to be against the interests of the tribe, therefore the person was only acting in self interest.

Abortion is a different issue. That's stopping potential new members to the tribe, and is a complicated issue within itself.

 

[MyStateKilledMe]

It's a social construct. A working-age adult represents tax revenue to the government and income value to corporate executives. If he/she catches the bus, all that is lost. So to prevent the loss, The Powers That Be enforce pro-lifer mindset and tactics onto everyone.

 

[AcornUnderground]

I think it has to do with the value humankind places on life in general. Even many pro-choicers fight this on their own biological level through survival instinct. There is a general feeling, biologically and spiritually, that human life should be sustained. Mix that in with centuries of religion and medicine developed to save people no matter what cost, and I think you have an answer.
I do not think there is financial motive to keeping people alive. Sure, there are markets like psyc and psyc drugs that are fueled by mental illness, but largely the mentally ill population - to the point of suicidal especially - is typically more of a financial liability than an asset, when government assistance, lack of ability be gainfully employed, health issues, etc are all considered.

 

[nigelhernandez]

I think it has to do with the value humankind places on life in general. Even many pro-choicers fight this on their own biological level through survival instinct. There is a general feeling, biologically and spiritually, that human life should be sustained. Mix that in with centuries of religion and medicine developed to save people no matter what cost, and I think you have an answer.
I do not think there is financial motive to keeping people alive. Sure, there are markets like psyc and psyc drugs that are fueled by mental illness, but largely the mentally ill population - to the point of suicidal especially - is typically more of a financial liability than an asset, when government assistance, lack of ability be gainfully employed, health issues, etc are all considered.

I get what you're saying but funnily enough, I don't think people place a value on life, just the idea of life.

People are fine with letting homeless starve and die but so long as they don't kill themselves, it's fine. Absolute hypocrisy.

 

[AcornUnderground]

I get what you're saying but funnily enough, I don't think people place a value on life, just the idea of life.

People are fine with letting homeless starve and die but so long as they don't kill themselves, it's fine. Absolute hypocrisy.

I am with you 100%!

 

[Deleted member 1465]

Survival instinct. Survive, reproduce, care for offspring until they are old enough to reproduce. Then people effectively have little evolutionary function. It's no coincidence that many species of animal die once they have reproduced, but nature is clumsy in the short term, and primates live for longer than is necessary to achieve their evolutionary prerogative.
The survival instinct remains though and is overwhelmingly strong, strong enough to seep into cultural consciousness.
We are like mayflies granted a stay of execution.

 

[Kumachan]

I think it has to do with the value humankind places on life in general. Even many pro-choicers fight this on their own biological level through survival instinct. There is a general feeling, biologically and spiritually, that human life should be sustained.

there is no "humankind", everyone for himself. We are not living in a tribe where that would be the case when everyone depends on each other. Ruling class - they work together and they cant allow you to simply quit(Life gets better). Its a fucking prison.

 

[AcornUnderground]

there is no "humankind", everyone for himself. We are not living in a tribe where that would be the case when everyone depends on each other. Ruling class - they work together and they cant allow you to simply quit(Life gets better). Its a fucking prison.

Ok. Substitute with the word "people".

 

[Libracusp_1022]

I wonder if suicide became an extreme taboo because of Christianity. I agree that the issue is similar to that of abortion. My body, my choice...