The "inner voice" and suicide.

Abstract

The "voice" refers to an internal system of hostile thoughts and attitudes, antithetical to the self and cynical toward others. It reaches its most dangerous and life-threatening expression in suicidal acting-out behavior.Preliminary studies indicate that this partly conscious thought process is at the root of much depressive behavior and lowered self-esteem and that there is powerful negative affect accompanying the inner voice. The voice is described as a core defense that originated in family interactions. The dynamics and probable sources of the voice are analyzed, and the relationship between this destructive thought process and actual suicidal behavior are explored.David Shaffer, head of a three-year study of teenage suicide, recently lamented the lack of knowledge about the predictors of suicide:Warning signs? My experience in the pilot phase of this study is that these signs have not been present. There's no empirical evidence to tell anybody what are the precursors of death. (Breskin, 1984, p. 35, italics added) The author of this article suggests, however, that there are certain recognizable "precursors of death" identifiable in suicidal ideology. Our point of view regarding the underlying thought process This article has been expanded into a chapter to be published in 1987 by Human Sciences Press in a book entitled

The Relationship Among Critical Inner Voices, Low Self-Esteem, and Self-Criticism in Eating Disorders

“…Might the inner voice be the core of a negative self-concept which develops during the most severe stage of the eating disorder as was suggested by Firestone (1986)? Could these negative inner voices be related to low self-esteem and high self-criticism, factors which have previously been found to be key in the onset and development of eating disorders (Dunkley, Blankstein, Masheb, & Grilo, 2006;Dunkley & Grilo, 2007;Dunkley, Masheb, & Grilo, 2010;Fennig et al, 2008)?…”

“…Hence, the term voice may deter many participants, as they may be afraid of appearing to have a psychotic illness. With reference to Firestone's (1986) definition of inner voices the word voice might be replaced with thoughts which you experience as a voice. Prospective research should make clear when having negative critical thoughts are heard as critical voices.…”

“…According to Firestone (1986) hearing an inner voice is neither a real sensory perception nor an acoustic hallucination, but rather ". .…”

Into the fear-factory: connecting with the traumatic core

“…Firestone (1988) described how such a usually dormant but always vigilant inner voice manifests itself by a series of "thoughts and attitudes, antithetical toward self and cynical towards others" (p. 33). It frequently pushes towards suicide (Firestone, 1986). It can make a client forget an appointment, feel ridiculous for seeking therapy, or too drowsy to connect and share.…”

Family Communication, Maternal and Paternal Expectations, and College Students' Suicidality

“…Research by Firestone (1996, 1998) and Firestone (1986Firestone ( , 1990) on family factors and suicide outcomes lends additional support to the importance of family communication interaction and suicide risk. Although they take a psychodynamic approach to the study of suicide, Firestone and Firestone's (1998) research findings strongly suggested that relationships with significant primary figures, especially parents, which are intrusive or rejecting in the face of failure are likely to be internalized and can increase the risk of suicide in later life.…”