suicide Flashcards
parasuicide
unsuccessful attempt
Death seekers
people who clearly intend to end their lives at time of suicide (even if confusion is apparent at other times)
death initiatiors
also clealry intend to end lives, but out of belief that they’re going to die soon regardless
death ignorers
ppl who think their suicide takes them to a better place, existence isn’t ending
death darers
show ambivalence about dying even at time of suicide
retrospective analysis
a way to study suicidal folks after their death
-but info not always available or reliable
studying ppl who survive their suicide attempts
a more accurate way to study suicide
12 unsuccessful for every successful
but- they might differ in important ways from ppl who did die
are suicide rates the same by country
no
religion and suicide
less likely to commit suicide the more devout you are
gender and suicide
women attempt 3x as much, but men succeed 4x as much
men use more violent methods
race and suicide
native americans most likely, followed by whites
stressful events triggering suicide
more stressful events in attempters
combat, loss of loved one, loss of job, financial loss, natural distasters
or buildup of events
social isolation triggering suicide
having little sense of belongingness contributes to suicide likelihood
serious illness triggering suicide
may believe death is imminent anyway, or the pain/problems is too much to bear
abusive/repressive environment triggering suicide
victims of abuse/repression w/ little hope of escape more likely to attempt
occupational stress triggering suicide
jobs creating feeling of dissatisfaction or tension may increase chance. psychiatry, physicians, nurses, doctors, farmers, others.
change in mood
many attempts preceded by change in mood, probably increase in sadness
dichotomous thinking
viewing problems/solutions in rigid either/or terms. often part of suicidal thinking
alcohol/other drug use just before
people very likely to drink (70%) right before, or use other drugs
mental disorders and suicide
70% severe depression, 20% chronic alcoholism, 10% schizophrenia
BUT not always mental disorder
modeling and suicide
social contagion effect increases risk when family/friend/celebrity/highly publicized case commits suicide
psychodynamic view of suicide causes
from depression + anger at others redirected towards self
durkheims sociocultural view
the more thoroughly connected a person is to their family/friends/church/community the less likely suicide is
durkheim egoistic suicide
committed by ppl over whom society has little control. rejecting it
isolated/alienated/nonreligious
durkheim altruisitic suicide
so well integrated into society that they sacrifice themselves for its wellbeing
durkheim anomic suicide
people whos society/social structures fail to give them stable structures to support/give meaning to life
supported by research
biological view of suicide
- genetic factors at work- twin study where if identical, when one committed the other more likely to, not the case for fraternal
- also, the lower the serotonin the higher the chance of suicide- even w non-depressed ppl (lower=more aggressive, less impulsive)
age and suicide
suicide rates rise till 64, then fall, then rise again at 84
elderly ppl suicide
more determined to die, less warning
those who attempt are often v sick
-less respected in society- tho Natives have highest suicide rate, NA elderly rates relaitvely low, prob bc of high status
cog behavioral therapy suicide
found to be most helpful in treating post attempt
suicide prevention programs
unclear whether they work
