Chapter 8 - Crisis of Lethality Flashcards
Developmental Theory of Suicide
(Developmental = life stages)
Individuals who do not successfully navigate life stages become mistrustful, guilt ridden, isolated, and stagnant and may choose suicide as a way out.
Deficiencies Theory of Suicide
Proposes that there is some mental deficiency, such as mood disorders and coping difficulties, in the suicidal individual.
Escapist Theory of Suicide
Escapist suicide theory suggests a 6-step process starting with individuals perceiving themselves as failing to meet personal or external standards.
This perception leads to self-blame, heightened awareness of shortcomings, negative emotions, cognitive disintegration focusing on deficits, and eventually suicide, exacerbated by intolerable perfectionism.
Hopelessness Theory of Suicide
The hopelessness theory suggests that individuals believe desirable outcomes won’t occur or adverse outcomes will, feeling unable to change these situations.
Psychache Theory of Suicide
Shneidman’s cubic model combines intense psychological pain, perturbation (degree of disturbance), and press (accumulating negative factors) leading to suicide.
Psychache, representing deep mental anguish from emotions like guilt or loss, is tied to unmet psychological needs, with suicide seen as a way to end this pain.
Durkheim’s Social Integration Theory of Suicide
In Durkheim’s theory, a major sociological perspective on suicide, societal integration (the degree to which people are bound together in social networks) and social regulation (the degree to which the individual’s desires and emotions are regulated by societal norms and customs) are major determinants of suicidal behavior.
Egoistic Suicide
Stems from lack of integration or identification with a group.
Anomic Suicide
Arises from a perceived or real breakdown in the norms of society, like during economic crises.
Altruistic Suicide
Related to perceived or real social solidarity, seen in hara-kiri or suicide attacks.
Fatalistic Suicide
Arises in oppressively inescapable situations such as being confined in a concentration camp.
Suicide Trajectory Model
This model assesses the cumulative risk of suicide based on biological, psychological, cognitive, and environmental factors.
The presence and accumulation of these factors, like substance misuse, mental disorders, and access to firearms, increase suicide potential
Three Elements Model
The model consists of predisposing factors (e.g., drug misuse, mental illness) and potentiating factors (e.g., family history, loss, access to weapons).
When these components accumulate over time, a critical mass is formed, leading to suicidal ideation and behavior.
Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide
Joiner’s theory suggests that lack of belongingness, feeling of burdensomeness, and acquired capability for suicide indicate high suicide risk. (three factors)
Belongingness is thwarted by loneliness and absence of reciprocal relationships; burdensomeness is the belief of being a burden to others.
IS PATH WARM
A mnemonic to remember key warning signs: Ideation, Substance abuse, Purposelessness, Anxiety and Agitation, feeling Trapped, Hopelessness, Withdrawal, Anger, Recklessness, Mood fluctuations.
