Honor suicide

For example, honor suicides have been committed by military figures when faced with defeat, such as Adolf Hitler, Mark Antony, Władysław Raginis, Yoshitsugu Saito, Jozef Gabčík, Hans Langsdorff, and Emperor Theodore (Tewodros II) of Ethiopia.

[1] Despite this view, the requirement to commit harakiri was used as a capital punishment in old Japan, applied exclusively to persons of high rank and position, and being referred to as "grant of death" in this context.

The most notable example of harakiri in modern times is that of Yukio Mishima, a hardline nationalist who felt the Japanese military and society had become weak since the end of World War II.

Additionally, people have been observed to have a greater propensity to commit suicide when they are desensitized to self-harm; in cultures where exposure to violence is relatively common, pain tolerance and danger perceptions are likely to be higher.

The differing cultural demands placed upon men and women by honor result in risk of suicide when individuals are unable to meet their specific gender role expectations.

Fulfilment of expectations of manhood become increasingly difficult as one ages, and subsequent awareness of such difficulty can result in alienation and a feeling of burdensomeness on one's family and community.

Similarly for women, an inability to meet their set of role expectations can put them at risk of rejection and alienation, with the aging process potentially undermining their perceived attractiveness.

European depiction of harakiri