“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Deviance 10e Chapter Seven: SUICIDE This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program. Alex Thio

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Introduction Myth: depression is the major cause of suicide Myth: depression is the major cause of suicide Myth: suicide bombers are generally psychotic, or at least irrational, poor and uneducated Myth: suicide bombers are generally psychotic, or at least irrational, poor and uneducated Every year about 31,000 Americans commit suicide Every year about 31,000 Americans commit suicide

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Varieties of Suicidal Experience 3 types of suicidal experiences: 3 types of suicidal experiences: 1. some threaten suicide; 40% attempted to kill themselves in the past; many use the attempt as a means of achieving some objective in life – and don’t want to die 2. suicide attempters are ambiguous in their intent; most do NOT succeed 3. 2/3 who commit suicide had prior attempt

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Groups With Higher Suicide Rates Stats are not always reliable Stats are not always reliable Traditionally, suicide rates are higher in urban areas Traditionally, suicide rates are higher in urban areas Today, suicide rates are higher in rural areas Today, suicide rates are higher in rural areas The suicide rate is higher among whites than blacks in the U.S. The suicide rate is higher among whites than blacks in the U.S. Protestants have higher suicide rates than Catholics, who in turn have higher rates than Jews Protestants have higher suicide rates than Catholics, who in turn have higher rates than Jews

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Groups With Higher Suicide Rates – cont. Men are more likely to kill themselves than women Men are more likely to kill themselves than women Attempted suicide rates are higher among women than men Attempted suicide rates are higher among women than men Men are more likely to use lethal instruments such as firearms Men are more likely to use lethal instruments such as firearms

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Groups With Higher Suicide Rates – cont. Divorced persons have the highest suicide rate, married the lowest rate, and single individuals are intermediate Divorced persons have the highest suicide rate, married the lowest rate, and single individuals are intermediate U.S. suicide rates tends to rise with increasing age U.S. suicide rates tends to rise with increasing age Findings on the relationship between social class and suicide are contradictory Findings on the relationship between social class and suicide are contradictory

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 A Social Profile of Suicide Bombers Relatively well-off; middle class; better educated than their countrymen Relatively well-off; middle class; better educated than their countrymen Mostly young, male and single, and see themselves as martyrs Mostly young, male and single, and see themselves as martyrs Suicide attacks have been common throughout history Suicide attacks have been common throughout history

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Situational Factors in Suicide Teenagers today are much more likely than in past to kill themselves Teenagers today are much more likely than in past to kill themselves Going to college is associated with higher suicide rates Going to college is associated with higher suicide rates Suicide in prison is relatively common Suicide in prison is relatively common People with fatal diseases have higher rates of suicide; this holds true for AIDS People with fatal diseases have higher rates of suicide; this holds true for AIDS Mass media has an influence on suicide – highly publicized suicides tend to result in national suicide rates increasing Mass media has an influence on suicide – highly publicized suicides tend to result in national suicide rates increasing

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Global Perspective on Suicide Suicide rates are higher in industrialized countries Suicide rates are higher in industrialized countries In Western countries, suicide rates peak in the spring and bottom out in winter In Western countries, suicide rates peak in the spring and bottom out in winter Suicide occurs more often in the beginning of the week and very rarely on weekends Suicide occurs more often in the beginning of the week and very rarely on weekends

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Social Responses to Suicide Suicide rates are related to how a society responds to it Suicide rates are related to how a society responds to it When a loved one commits suicide, survivors tend to feel guilty When a loved one commits suicide, survivors tend to feel guilty Patients have the right to refuse life- sustaining treatment (living will) Patients have the right to refuse life- sustaining treatment (living will) Several individuals and organizations try to prevent suicide Several individuals and organizations try to prevent suicide

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Figure 7.1 Age and Suicide

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Sociological Theories of Suicide To sociologists, causes of suicide do not reside within the individual but rather within the group to whom the individual belongs and the individual’s interaction with agents of social institutions. To sociologists, causes of suicide do not reside within the individual but rather within the group to whom the individual belongs and the individual’s interaction with agents of social institutions. Durkheimian theory: Durkheimian theory: social integration: involves persons attaching themselves to groups social integration: involves persons attaching themselves to groups social regulation: involves individuals being coercively regulated by a group social regulation: involves individuals being coercively regulated by a group

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Figure 7.2 Durkheim’s Theory

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Sociological Theories of Suicide – cont. Henry and Short theory: interprets suicide as an act of aggression directed toward oneself that results from three factors – sociological, psychological and economic Henry and Short theory: interprets suicide as an act of aggression directed toward oneself that results from three factors – sociological, psychological and economic

“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Sociological Theories of Suicide – cont. Phenomenological theories: Phenomenological theories: Theory of suicidal meanings: individuals impute specific meanings to their prospective suicidal acts Theory of suicidal meanings: individuals impute specific meanings to their prospective suicidal acts Theory of suicide process: interprets the social meanings of suicide as a social prohibition against suicide so that the suicidal person must overcome the prohibition before taking his or her own life Theory of suicide process: interprets the social meanings of suicide as a social prohibition against suicide so that the suicidal person must overcome the prohibition before taking his or her own life