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The moral acceptability of suicide
1Psychology Program, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona 08240-0195, USA.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Depression and suicidal thoughts correlate with views on suicide morality. College students experiencing these issues perceived suicide as less morally wrong, indicating a link between mental state and ethical judgment.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Mental Health Research
- Ethics
Background:
- Understanding the ethical perspectives on suicide is crucial in mental health.
- Previous research has explored factors influencing attitudes toward suicide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between personality traits and moral judgments of suicide.
- To examine how depression and suicidal ideation affect perceptions of suicide's morality.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of four studies with varying sample sizes (N=50, 148, 201, 63).
- Examination of personality correlates and opinions on the morality of suicide.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation was found between depression, suicidal ideation, and the moral acceptability of suicide.
- College students with higher levels of depression and suicidality viewed suicide as less morally objectionable.
Conclusions:
- Depression and suicidal ideation are associated with a diminished perception of suicide's immorality.
- These findings highlight the complex interplay between mental health status and ethical viewpoints on suicide.