CHAPTER 7: Suicide Flashcards
One study showed that of people at high risk for committing suicide who contact a suicide crisis hotline,approximately _____ later commit suicide.
A) 2 percent
B) 10 percent
C) 30 percent
D) 50 percent
A) 2 percent
Why has suicide become the second leading cause of death in the adolescent age group?
A) Adolescents are rebellious and less inclined to imitate others.
B) Youths lack stable social networks for support.
C) Fatal illnesses are uncommon among the young.
D) Teenagers have a higher likelihood of reacting calmly to stress.
C) Fatal illnesses are uncommon among the young.
When a rash of suicides occurs in the aftermath of a celebrity’s suicide or a case that has been highly publicized by the media,behavioral theorists believe it is attributable to:
A) modeling.
B) helplessness.
C) fear.
D) hopelessness.
A) modeling.
A young man commits suicide.His father and uncle committed suicide at about his age as well.Which explanation of suicide MOST easily explains the young man’s suicide?
A) a psychodynamic explanation
B) a sociocultural explanation
C) a biological explanation
D) an immediate trigger explanation
C) a biological explanation
What term describes the behaviors of people who attempt suicide after observing or reading about someone else who has done so?
A) modeling
B) parasuicide
C) the bystander effect
D) social learning
A) modeling
A clinically depressed individual who has been threatening suicide finally shows a diminishing of depressive symptoms.This person’s risk of committing suicide:
A) has increased dramatically; almost no one who is depressed commits suicide until she or he is recovering.
B) may have increased,because the person may have the energy to act on the suicidal impulse.
C) probably has decreased,although a slight risk remains.
D) has decreased substantially; almost no one who is depressed commits suicide once recovery from depression is under way.
B) may have increased,because the person may have the energy to act on the suicidal impulse.
Which statement BEST reflects the relationship between serotonin and the depression-related brain circuit and suicide?
A) Low levels of serotonin and poorer functioning of the depression-related brain circuit are related to high levels of aggression and impulsivity.
B) High levels of serotonin and overactivity of the depression-related brain circuit are related to high levels of aggression and impulsivity.
C) Serotonin makes people more likely to abuse substances and disrupts the depression-related brain circuit,increasing the likelihood of their committing suicide.
D) Suicide attempts increase the level of serotonin in the brain,disrupting the depression-related brain circuit and making suicide more likely.
A) Low levels of serotonin and poorer functioning of the depression-related brain circuit are related to high levels of aggression and impulsivity.
People with little sense of “belongingness,” who live alone and experience frequent conflicts with others,and who believe they have limited social support are experiencing:
A) serious illness.
B) occupational stress.
C) an abusive environment.
D) social isolation.
D) social isolation.
For teenagers,the highest suicide rates are found among:
A) non-Hispanic white Americans and American Indians.
B) American Indians and African Americans.
C) African Americans and Hispanic Americans.
D) non-Hispanic white Americans and Hispanic Americans.
A) non-Hispanic white Americans and American Indians.
Among teenagers who attempt suicide,_____ succeed the first time,and _____ will try again.
A) approximately 3 percent; half
B) approximately 3 percent; approximately 10 percent
C) less than 1 percent; approximately half
D) less than 1 percent; approximately 10 percent
C) less than 1 percent; approximately half
Based on the evidence about suicide rates,intervention strategies,to be most effective,should focus on:
A) middle-aged adults,as they have a fairly high suicide rate that is rising relatively rapidly.
B) children; although they have a relatively low suicide rate,the rate is rising extremely rapidly.
C) those older than age 75,since they make far more suicide attempts than other age groups,although they have a low suicide rate.
D) teenagers,as they have the highest suicide attempt and suicide completion rates of any age group.
A) middle-aged adults,as they have a fairly high suicide rate that is rising relatively rapidly.
How are the interpersonal theory of suicide and the sociocultural view of suicide different?
A) Only the sociocultural view focuses on a sense of belonging.
B) The interpersonal theory describes perceived burdensomeness as a factor in suicide.
C) The interpersonal theory states that serotonin deficits contribute to suicide.
D) The sociocultural view explains why some people who face particular societal pressures attempt suicide while the majority do not.
B) The interpersonal theory describes perceived burdensomeness as a factor in suicide.
Why do many people think that the estimates of the rates of suicide are inaccurate?
A) Insurance companies pay extra life insurance in cases of suicide.
B) Many reported suicides are probably really accidents.
C) The stigma associated with suicide makes people hesitant to report it.
D) Suicide is not a DSM-5 category.
C) The stigma associated with suicide makes people hesitant to report it.
What research provides the most compelling evidence that suicide may have a biological basis?
A) studies linking specific genetic mutations to suicidal tendencies
B) studies of neurotransmitter levels
C) family pedigree studies
D) a Danish study of identical twins
B) studies of neurotransmitter levels
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When answering the telephone of a suicide hotline,the first step for the counselor is to:
A) formulate a plan.
B) establish a positive relationship.
C) understand and clarify the problem.
D) assess the caller’s suicide potential.
B) establish a positive relationship.
At a suicide prevention center,you hear a counselor say,”Can you tell me what you think are the most important factors that are making you feel hopeless right now? If you could change three things about your life,what would they be?” Which of the goals and techniques of suicide prevention do these questions BEST represent?
A) Formulating a plan
B) Assessing suicide potential
C) Understanding and clarifying the problem
D) Assessing and mobilizing the caller’s resources
C) Understanding and clarifying the problem
Suicide rates in the weeks after Kurt Cobain’s suicide held steady,contrary to the modeling effect seen with other celebrity suicides.The text notes that a possible reason for this was:
A) his age at the time of his death.
B) the manner in which he killed himself,a gunshot to the head.
C) the area where he lived,which had a suicide rate that was lower than the national average.
D) the media coverage of the event,which included a “Don’t do it!” message.
D) the media coverage of the event,which included a “Don’t do it!” message.
Reducing the public’s access to lethal and common means of suicide would mean measures such as:
A) covering pools.
B) prescriptions for fewer medications.
C) postvention.
D) gun control.
D) gun control.
.
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Suicide education programs typically focus on:
A) those persons who have previously attempted suicide.
B) clergy,who are often contacted by suicidal people.
C) students and teachers.
D) high-risk people who call hotlines.
C) students and teachers.
The top two leading causes of death among teenagers are:
A) drug overdoses and cancer.
B) accidents and suicide.
C) suicide and drug overdoses.
D) homicide and cancer.
C) suicide and drug overdoses.
What factor is thought to account for variations in suicide rates among different countries?
A) climate
B) religious affiliation and beliefs
C) prevalence of mental disorders
D) governmental regulations regarding suicide
B) religious affiliation and beliefs
Which has NOT been linked to increased suicide risk among teenagers?
A) intense competition for jobs and positions in college
B) weakening family ties,and resulting alienation
C) access to pro-suicide sites on the Internet
D) easy access to drugs and alcohol,and pressure to use those substances
C) access to pro-suicide sites on the Internet