Exploring Suicidal Ambivalence: Philosophical and Psychological Perspectives

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René Baston (Dortmund University of Technology, Germany) Martin Weichold (Dresden University of Technology, Germany)

Exploring Suicidal Ambivalence

Philosophical and Psychological Perspectives

René Baston (Dortmund University of Technology, Germany), Martin Weichold (Dresden University of Technology, Germany)

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English

Routledge
29 December 2025

Philosophy of mind; Ethics & moral philosophy; Sociology; Medical ethics & professional conduct; Bio-ethics

Series: Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy

This volume offers a comprehensive interdisciplinary exploration of ambivalence in suicidal agency, a phenomenon that, despite its significance in clinical psychology, remains under-conceptualized.

Philosophers debate what ambivalence amounts to and whether ambivalence undermines practical rationality and agency, yet this discourse has rarely been applied to suicidal ambivalence. This volume examines the structural features of ambivalence in suicidal individuals, focusing, among other things, on the conflicting desires to end one's life versus the desire to live. By analyzing these opposing mental states, it clarifies the psychological and philosophical dimensions of ambivalence and its impact on the transition from suicidal ideation to action. Additionally, it critically evaluates whether ambivalence reflects diminished rationality and whether suicidal ambivalence potentially justifies paternalistic interventions. Bridging psychology and philosophy, this volume provides a nuanced understanding of ambivalence in suicidal agency, with significant implications for clinical practice and ethical decision-making.

Exploring Suicidal Ambivalence will appeal to researchers and graduate students working in philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, clinical psychology, medical ethics, and psychiatry.

Edited by: René Baston (Dortmund University of Technology Germany), Martin Weichold (Dresden University of Technology, Germany)
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 630g
ISBN: 9781041017486
ISBN 10: 1041017480
Series: Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 29 December 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Introduction: The Relevance of Ambivalence in Suicidal Behavior Part 1: The Basics 1. Psychological Perspectives on Suicidal Ambivalence 2. Philosophical Perspectives on Suicidal Ambivalence 3. Ambivalence: Some Conceptual Distinctions Part 2: Explaining Suicidal Ambivalence 4. Understanding Suicide, Acting for Reasons, and Ambivalence 5. The Ambivalence Model of Suicidality 6. Competing Motives and Forces: A Complex Systems View of Suicidal Ambivalence 7. Situated Suicidality: Taking the Environment Seriously Part 3: The Value of Ambivalence 8. The Benefits of Ambivalence and the Context of Suicide Intervention 9. Unmastered Ambivalence 10. Circles of Thought: When Ambivalence Threatens Our Agency Part 4: Ethical Implications of Suicidal Ambivalence 11. Ambivalence and Paternalistic Suicide Prevention 12. Ambivalence and Medical Aid in Dying

René Baston is a research fellow at TU Dortmund. He has held positions in Bochum, Düsseldorf, Arizona, Edinburgh, and Boulder. His research focuses on philosophy of mind and psychology, especially suicidology. His dissertation was published as Implizite Vorurteile – Wie unbewusster Rassismus unser Denken begleitet (2020). Martin Weichold is Lecturer in Practical Philosophy at TU Dresden. He previously researched at Göttingen, Berkeley, Vienna, and Regensburg. His work explores links between philosophy of psychology and ethics. His book publications include Zwischen Reflex und Reflexion (2015) and The Autonomous Individual: A Praxeological Enactivist Account (2024).

Reviews for Exploring Suicidal Ambivalence: Philosophical and Psychological Perspectives

“This volume brings together important latest research from philosophy and psychology on a topic of significant practical relevance. Highly recommended to researchers, practitioners, and postgraduate students dealing with questions related to suicidality.” Jukka Varelius, University of Turku, Finland