ABSTRACT
While the popular use of the term ‘‘death wish’’ owes much to the five Charles Bronson movies between 1974 and 1994, it is accepted in some psychological circles as representing the motivational state of SENSATION-SEEKING persons who habitually seek out hazardous situations. Freudians prefer to interpret the behavior of such persons in terms of Thanatos, or the death INSTINCT (often contrasted with Eros, the life instinct), which inclines individuals away from gratification, and toward denial, restraint, and expiation (Thanatos was the Greek god of death; Eros the god of love). Some athletes, especially those in sports in which there is a considerable RISK of harm, are often thought to be possessed of a death wish. Every sport involves the risk of death or serious INJURY. Boxing
draws the wrath of American and British medical associations because of the physical punishment incurred in virtually every fight by virtually every boxer. Statistically, however, motor racing and air sports have far more victims than other sports, with accidents claiming the lives of competitors in what are clearly high-risk endeavors involving elaborate items of technology. Research by R. C. Cantu and F. O Mueller indicated that American football, ice hockey, gymnastics, and wrestling (not WWE) were sports in which competitors were at greatest risk. Less obviously dangerous sports include running and cycling. In these, athletes are typically killed in road accidents while training, or by training too zealously in middle age. Even sedentary competitions, such as chess or bridge, harbor unseen perils (such as the onset of deep vein thrombosis after remaining stationary for long periods!) While the notion of a death wish has a superficial plausibility, it
remains in the realms of hypothesis: There is no empirical research to consolidate its status as anything but a popular phrase. Further, there are no known athletes who resemble Bronson’s death-dealing urban vigilante who hurtles into treacherous situations at every opportunity. Even Formula 1 drivers, whose professional raison d’eˆtre is to travel at unsafe speeds, are motivated by more tangible incentives than the chance to cheat death-like the prospect of earnings of over $30 million per year.
