Resource Tag: AMBIVALENCE

Euthanasia is reviewed from both legal and medical perspectives. The author seeks to demonstrate that patients who seek the right to die are generally only seeking a means to end their pain or dependence on others. The author argues that it is especially important to distinguish the theoretical exercise of the right to die from […]

In this study, the sociodemographic & psychological characteristics of female & male suicide attempters seen in a pediatric hospital are compared. There were no sociodemographic differences between the groups. Boys & girls were similar when assessed regarding suicidal ideation, depression, & hopelessness. More males than females were diagnosed with conduct disorders. Some items on the […]

In this press release, the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention outlines their position in the current debates on euthanasia and assisted suicide. The Association urges that anyone involved in the debate carefully define how terms are being used & also that the potential risk of comprising the rights of suicidal persons to change their mind […]

This article discusses how beliefs such as “taking one’s life is morally wrong” contradict feminist thinking. By accepting such notions, one is trivializing women’s agony and reality. Freedom means being able to make one’s decisions – even lethal ones. Traditional interference to prevent a woman from committing suicide often prevents her from getting decent help. […]

This chapter notes that the claim that a person did not really want to die, is often part of an attempt to justify a policy of forceful intervention to prevent a suicide. Four legitimate senses in which someone may be said to have false desires are identified. However, the chapter argues that claims that suicide […]

This article provides a framework for understanding & assessing the psychological factors of suicidal behavior. The author discusses the importance of perturbation & lethality levels. He also describes the 10 commonalities of suicide, such as: the common purpose of suicide is to seek a solution; the common stimulus is intolerable psychological pain; the common cognitive […]

This introductory chapter reviews many aspects of suicide. Definitions of self-destructive behaviors (e.g. attempted suicide, suicidal gestures) & characteristics of typical suicidal persons are given. The etiology of suicide, ambivalence & its relation to suicide, the illogic of the suicidal mind, & the involvment of significant others are discussed. Losses involving self-image & significant others, […]

Presents an archival study as to whether the method chosen for suicide is important psychologically that involved the assessment of 8 patterns as possible predictors of suicide notes &, by implication, suicide. Independent judges scored the content of the suicide notes from completed suicides for whom the method of suicide was known. No differences were […]

Article comments on the problem of suicide & ways in which professionals, friends, & families can help. Myths about suicide are discussed.

Presents a synthesis of research findings, clinical observations, & theories about child suicide that contributes to an understanding of suicide from a phenomenological point of view & aids in the evaluation of self-destructive behavior. A suggested guideline for the treatment & prevention of child suicides is included.

In this presentation Shneidman takes a psychological theoretical approach to the problem of suicide & its treatment. He discusses 10 commonalities of every serious suicide e.g. psychological pain, blocked needs, hopelessness, helplessness, constriction, egression, communication of intention & attempts to give some visual imagery to this concept with his cubic model. To prevent suicide, you […]

The author presents several examples of suicide found in Shakespeare’s tragedies & attempts to determine societal attitudes by a study of these characters. He states that we do not yet know the reason why people commit suicide, but that suicide is usually accompanied by ambivalent feelings that have long been in conflict within the victim’s […]

Feuerlein claims suicidal acts can be understood in terms of strong desire for autoaggression, appeal, & interruption. The predominance of autoagression leads to the most serious act, while appeal is not a death-seeking attempt, & interruption manifests itself in gestures. (NBB)

Critically ill patients who refuse life-prolonging therapy resemble suicides in that they choose death over life & are likely to manifest some ambivalence about their decision. 3 authors present their views over the issue of competency in the presence of ambivalence. Under changing conditions or “mid-process” ambivalence is both inevitable & appropriate evidence of rational […]

Every caregiver must take the lonely journey through a confusing jungle of options in order to find the personal values, personal positions, & personal ethics by which to live & work. In this soul-searching struggle for realization each individual considers the right to die, the right to prevent suicide, & the right to help or […]

Three conceptual frameworks to help clarify suicidal behaviors & assist in evaluation & treatment are discussed. They are: 1) lethality, perturbation & inimicality; 2) the brief, ambivalent & dyadic characteristics of suicidal phemomena; & 3) the concept of a continuum of intentionality as opposed to the traditional discrete apsychological categories of death. (LH)

The author asserts that suicide prevention is dependent on meaningful definition of suicide which aids in accurate assessment leading to effective therapy. He defines suicide, discusses classifications, lists characteristics of completed suicide & reflects on suicide & its prevention. 20 Refs. (LH)

Presents a comprehensive examination of the issues surrounding the question of whether a person has the right to suicide or not. The pros & cons of euthanasia, the influence of chronic/terminal illness on the right to die issue, the impact of the media on contagion/imitation, the dynamics of suicide pacts, & the effect of hospitalization […]

This chapter discusses the frequency & content of suicide notes. Length, emotional depth & people addressed in these notes are discussed. The applicability of analysis of notes in suicide research is also included, with a disclaimer that notes may only address immediate concerns rather than all-encompassing reasons for suicide. The author concludes with a summary […]

The authors present a case of a pattern in which the suicidal person projects murderous wishes in seeking out another as an exucutioner. A homosexual patient who had alcoholism & anxiety disorder contracted AIDS after several failed suicide attempts (he was ambivalent about death), by deliberately seeking out multiple sexual partners with AIDS. Alcohol was […]

A visual analogue scale to assess feelings about life & death at the time of suicidal acts is described. It appears to have face validity & the results obtained correlate significantly with those of a validated suicidal intent scale. Of note is a significant correlation between the visual analogue score & that part of the […]