Judgments About Suicide: Morality Versus Rationality and Personal Versus Impersonal

This study evaluates the opinions of 63 university students concerning the morality & rationality of suicide. The students were each given case histories. Some students were asked to view each case as if it had occurred to themselves, while others were asked to imagine it occurred to a stranger. The personal of impersonal nature did not affect responses. Suicide due to cancer was seen as rational/moral, but due to financial crisis of depression it was seen as irrational/immoral. (VM)