Dire emotions and lethal behaviors : eclipse of the life instinct

Foreword by John Beebe.

1 How the innate affects work. 2 Optimal vs. violent expression of affect: a new way to understand the emergence of each of these outcomes. 3 Death and rebirth of the life instinct. 4 Vivienne Loomis: suicide. 5 Kipland Kinkel: killing of parents and others. 6 Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold: multiple homicides followed by suicides. 7 Sinedu Tadesse: homicide followed by suicide. 8 Gloria: panic leading to homicide; Peter: fury leading to killing of mother and sisters. 9 Little Father Time: homicides followed by suicide. 10 Lethal conditions and psychological treatment. 11 Epilogue

'...investigates the innate affects, with a focus towards the emotional motivation of adolescents and young adults who have killed others, themselves, or both. It is suggested that social isolation, dissociation of the personality, unbearable emotions, and possession by affects are necessary conditions for both homicide and suicide. Stewart argues that these conditions result from deep-seated emotional psychopathology which involves both the positive affects of the life instinct--Interest and Joy, and the crisis affects--Fear, Anguish, Anger, and Shame/Contempt.'

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