From a cracking facade to a total escape. Maladaptive perfectionism and suicide

Résumé

This study explored the final stages of the suicide process among six men characterized as maladaptive perfectionists. These men, aged 22 to 58, had no history of suicide attempts or mental health treatment. In-depth interviews with five to nine informants for each person were analyzed by utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three themes emerged from the analysis: (a) a cracking facade; (b) a total loss of coping ability; and (c) a total escape. Suicide was related to a shameful defeat that was not reversible, and a loss of the ability to handle such feelings of defeat and shame. NORVÈGE EUROPE HOMME SUICIDE-COMPLÉTÉ AUTOPSIE-PSYCHOLOGIQUE PERFECTIONNISME ESTIME-SOI COPING ÉVITEMENT RÔLE-SEXUEL PERCEPTION-SOI