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The study of suicidal lives.

D Lester1

  • 1Center for the Study of Suicide, Blackwood, NJ 08012.

Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

This study analyzed biographies of 30 individuals who died by suicide, evaluating ten suicide theories against their life stories. It identified which theories best explained these specific suicide cases and compared theory similarities.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Criminology
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Understanding the multifaceted nature of suicide is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
  • Existing suicide theories offer frameworks for explaining suicidal behavior, but their applicability requires empirical validation.
  • Biographical data provides rich, in-depth case studies for examining psychological and social factors contributing to suicide.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the explanatory power of Leenaars' ten suicide theories using biographical data.
  • To identify which specific suicide theories best describe the life circumstances of individuals who died by suicide.
  • To compare the similarities and differences between various suicide theories based on their application to real-life cases.

Main Methods:

  • A qualitative analysis of 30 book-length biographies of individuals who died by suicide.
  • Application of Leenaars' ten theories, each with ten distinct statements, to the biographical information of each case.
  • Comparative analysis of theory fit and inter-theory similarities across the selected suicide cases.

Main Results:

  • Specific suicide theories demonstrated varying degrees of success in explaining the analyzed cases.
  • Certain theories provided a more comprehensive framework for understanding the contributing factors in individual suicides.
  • The study identified overlaps and distinctions between the ten suicide theories, highlighting their unique and shared explanatory elements.

Conclusions:

  • Biographical case studies are valuable for testing and refining suicide theories.
  • The findings suggest that a combination of theoretical perspectives may be necessary for a holistic understanding of suicide.
  • Further research can utilize this approach to validate and integrate existing suicide theories.

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