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Related Experiment Videos

Rational choice theory and suicide.

D Lester1

  • 1Stockton State College, Pomona, NJ., 08240.

Activitas Nervosa Superior
|December 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Viewing suicide as a rational choice, this study explores if preventing one method leads to alternative suicide methods or different distress symptoms. It questions the effectiveness of restricting access to specific lethal means for suicide prevention.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Suicide is a complex issue often viewed as a symptom of underlying distress.
  • Understanding the decision-making process in suicidal individuals is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the implications of viewing suicide as a rational choice based on cost-benefit analysis.
  • To investigate whether preventing one suicide method leads to the adoption of alternative methods or other distress symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of suicide as a rational choice.
  • Examination of the potential for symptom substitution or method substitution in suicide prevention.

Main Results:

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  • Suicide can be one of several distress symptoms an individual may choose.
  • Preventing one suicide method may lead to the emergence of alternative methods or different symptoms of distress.

    • Conclusions:

    • Suicide prevention strategies must consider the potential for individuals to switch methods or manifest alternative distress behaviors.
    • Restricting access to specific suicide methods may not reduce overall suicide rates if underlying distress and the propensity for self-harm persist.