Assessing the "modeling effect" in parasuicidal behavior: a comment on Platt (1993)

This article provides a critical evaluation of Platt's [1993] research investigating the role of modeling in the acquisition of parasuicidal behavior. The discussion focuses on general theoretical and methodological issues related to research in this area, as well as on specific concerns regarding Platt's investigation. In addition to presenting a critique of this research, a hypothetical model is presented that should lend credibility to future investigations into the theoretically posited casual relationships within the modeling paradigm. Model selection was based upon a recognition that an adequate test of the observational learning theory would need to appropriately employ correlational data commonly found in research in suicide and parasuicide. The implications for clinical practice are presented.