Selfcide

The act of a group collectively choosing to end their own lives, typically under shared circumstances, beliefs, or external pressures. A fusion of "self" (referring to individuals) and "-cide" (Latin for "killing" or "act of killing").

Context & Usage:
- Psychology/Sociology: Used to describe mass suicides due to psychological distress, cult influence, or existential despair.

- History: Can be applied to infamous mass suicides, such as those of cults or desperate war situations.

- Philosophy: Some may use it metaphorically to discuss self-destructive behaviors within societies or movements.

See also: Homicide, Genocide, Suicide, Mass Suicide, Omnicide

Example Sentences:
"The Jonestown tragedy is one of the most well-known cases of selfcide in history."

"If a civilization knowingly destroys itself through reckless actions, can it be considered a slow, collective selfcide?"

"The idea of selfcide has been explored in dystopian literature, where entire groups choose to opt out of life rather than live under oppressive regimes."

"Online communities sometimes exhibit a form of digital selfcide when they mass-delete accounts in protest."

by EnigmaticSphinx8 March 22, 2025

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