From stereotypes to archetypes

an evolutionary perspective on male help-seeking and suicide

Martin Seager

pp. 227-248

in: Roger Kingerlee, Martin Seager, Luke Sullivan (eds), The Palgrave handbook of male psychology and mental health, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019

Abstract

This chapter will explore suicidal behaviour amongst males in the context of the evolution of our species and in particular the age-old role of the male as fighter, hunter, provider and protector. It will be shown that this evolutionary heritage is universal across our species and can be understood more in terms of a "male archetype" that is closer to being an embodied drive or instinct than a mere 'stereotype" learned purely from social or cultural influences. It will be argued on the basis of incontestable cross-cultural patterns of behaviour that if we truly wish to prevent male suicide we need to respect this universal male archetype but find new ways of expressing, adapting and applying it in a changing social world rather than attempting to deconstruct it or deny its existence.