The Seven Suicide Decisions: Reassessing the Gouldings’ Work to Include Suicidal Ambivalence and the Homicide/Suicide Dimension

Abstract

This article assesses the original concept of seven decisions related to suicide as it was originally proposed in 1979 by Goulding and Goulding. It examines the suicidal life script, including how it forms with the acceptance of the Don’t Exist injunction and is then personalized with the seven suicide decisions. The author considers the relationship between suicide and homicide and how they are similar and provides a transactional analysis explanation of homicidal behavior. The concept of suicidal ambivalence is presented to explain why all suicide attempts are half hearted. Seven suicide decisions and their clinical relevance are described.

Keywords:

• Suicide
• homicide
• Goulding
• decisions
• episcript
• life script
• suicidal ambivalence
• transactional analysis

Disclosure Statement

The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Notes on contributors

Tony White

Tony White, MSc, is a Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy) who maintains an independent private practice of therapy, does neuropsychological assessments, specializes in child and adolescent psychotherapy, and is the author of a number of books and articles on psychology, philosophy, and psychotherapy. He has also conducted a training program in transactional analysis in psychotherapy for 30 years in Perth, Western Australia. He can be reached at 136 Loftus St., North Perth, Western Australia 6006; email: [email protected]; website: www.tony-white.com.