Suicide

Psychology 511 with Henriques at University of Wisconsin - Madison

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By: Anonymous
Textbook:

Abnormal Psychology Media and Research Update with MindMap CD

Abnormal Psychology, Fourth Edition W/CD
Abnormal Psychology: Study Guide
Created: 2009-11-19
Size: 36 flashcards
Views: 68

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risks of suicide

- significant factor in all type of depression

- schizophrenia, substance abuse and personality disorder associated with increased risk of suicide

attempts most common in

25-44 year olds

completed suicides most common in

the elderly (65 and older)

gender differences

women more likely to attempt, men more likely to complete

- men chose more violent methods

- divorced more likely than single and married least likely

- men likely to turn to alcohol, which lowers inhibitions

suicide rates in children

up by nearly 300 percent, why?

- increased rate of depression

disorders of completed and nonfatal suicide in children and adolescents

- conduct disorder and substance abuse are common in completed

- mood disorders are more common among nonfatal attempter

warning sign of suicide

- threatening to hurt of kill themselves

- looking to gain ways to end life

- talking to writing about death

- feeling hopeless

- feeling rage, uncontrollable anger, seeking revenge

- acting reckless

- feeling trapped

- increasing alcohol and drug use

- withdrawing from friends, family

- feeling anxious, agitated, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time

- dramatic mood changes

- seeing no reason for living

surcease: why attempt?

see death as the only answer

- given up on life

- the only solution to problems

- certain they want to be dead and end their life

why do people attempt suicide?

surcease

manipulation

manipulation: why attempt?

use suicide to manipulate the world

- send a message

- let people know you are unhappy

- inflict revenge, gain attention

- not convinced they want to be dead

death seekers

clearly and explicitly seek to end their life

- people who get an handgun

death initiators

believe they are hastening an inevitable death

- speeding up the process

- struggling with terminal illness

death ignorers

intend to end their life, but do not mean the end of their existence

- ignore realities of what death is

death darers

ambivalent about dying and take actions that greatly increase their chances of death

sub-intentional death

people who aren't thinking about suicide

- drive without a seat-belt, smoke a pack of cigarettes a day

- risky behavior for their health

- removed from death darers

- can't tell if death was a suicide

casual factors: genetics

identical twins

adopted families

funs in families

causal factors: biological

reduced seroronergic activity appears to be associated with increased risk

Causal factors: social

more frequent in rural areas with higher religiosity

- Catholics have higher rates of suicide than Protestants

- whites have a higher suicide rate than African Americans

causal factors: alcohol

40-60% are intoxicated at time of death

- when drinking age was raised, suicide rates in adolescents decreases

- decreases inhibitions to end ones life

suicide notes

only one in 4 leave notes

-tend to be short and straightforward

perspectives on suicide: economic hardship

people who are unemployed, chronically impoverished and recently lost their job are at a high risk of suicide

perspectives on suicide: serious illness

hastening the inevitable

perspectives on suicide: loss and abuse

loss of a loved one or experience with past abuse increases risk of suicide

Durkheim's theory

social integration and moral regulation

- social ties and moral integration into society help prevent suicide IF the society discourages suicide

egoistic suicide

low social integration

- feel alienated, aren't integrated into society

- no connections to other people

- unmarried individuals are more likely to commit suicide than married individuals

- if you have children, least likely

altruistic suicide

suicide will in some was make society better

- do society a favor

- too integrated into society

- feels they are a burden

anomic suicide

low moral regulation and social integration

- no connected to society

- relationship has ended

- lose a job or health insurance will not cover illness

fatalistic suicide

high moral regulation

- completely helpless

- slaves, prisoners

suicide contagion

one suicide leads to another through the idea of "catching it" as an illness

- one suicide serves as a model for other people

- have an "outbreak" of suicide

psychological theories: psychodynamic theory

the extreme expression of anger at the love object who has abandoned the person

- not a lot of hatred and hostility

- ultimate act of self hatred

psychological theories: mental disorder

increase risk for suicide including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse, and anxiety disorder

psychological theories: impulsivity

general tendency toward impulsive acts

psychological theories: cognitive theories

hopelessness and dichotomous thinking increases risk for suicide

- hopelessness is the most common emotion associated with suicide

biological theories: genetic

- disordered genes increase risk

- runs in families

- identical twins are more likely

- more suicide in biological than adopted family

biological theories: neurotransmitter theory

- deficiencies in serotonin lead to impulsive, violent and suicidal behaviors

- linked to more violent means of suicide

- people with lowest levels are more likely to go back and complete an attempt

biological theories: low-cholesterol theory

excessively low cholesterol increases risk of suicide, perhaps affecting serotonin levels