Death by Hand Grenade: Altruistic Suicide in Combat

Abstract

Durkheim's theory of suicide is examined as it bears on the concept of altruistic suicide. A subtype called heroic altruistic suicide or self‐sacrifice is identified. Relationships are hypothesized between cohesion and self‐sacrifice and rank and self‐sacrifice, and they are tested in combat situations, utilizing official published information on the Congressional Medal of Honor. Altruistic suicide is found to be higher in more cohesive than in less cohesive groups and more likely among enlisted men than among career officers and noncommissioned officers. In addition to testing hypotheses empirically, this study elaborates Durkheim by extending his analysis of altrustic suicide and clarifies his work by delineating sources of error in his hypotheses.