Major works on suicide are reviewed & classified into 4 categories: cultural, economic, modernization, & social intergration. Research under these paradigms is assessed Re. 4 themes: 1) attention is drawn to evidence questioning traditionaltheories; 2) several new theories are noted; 3) explanations of new trends in suicide rates are reviewed; & 4) explanations of suicide that have withstood rigorous empirical testing are highlighted. 76 refs. see also 870826 & 870827 (LH)