A Learning Analysis of Suicide Considered as a Gambling Behavior (IN: Suicide as a Learned Behavior, by D Lester)

In this chapter, learned suicidal behaviours are compared to a model of gambling behaviour. Frank (1979) studied the influence of rewards, punishments & expectancies in the learning of gambling behaviour. Lester uses these factors to show how if suicidal behaviour in some situations fits the model of a gambling behaviour, then social learning theory can provide an understanding of how such a situation can occur.