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The over-determination of selflessness in villains and heroes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2014

Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi*
Affiliation:
University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. benny@psy.haifa.ac.il

Abstract

The suicidality hypothesis could be applied to other situations, such as cases in regular military organizations or in “terrorist” groups, where individuals put themselves in circumstances that are directly suicidal. Self-selection in these cases may be motivated by depression or short-term hopelessness. Both violent and charitable acts are over-determined, and a multiplicity of motives should be considered in explaining them.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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