Assessing the “Modeling Effect” in Parasuicidal Behavior: a Comment on Platt (1993)

This article discusses the role of modeling & specific concerns regarding Platt’s investigation. A hypothetical model is presented as an alternative that should lend credibility to future investiugations into the theoretically posited causal relationships within the modeling paradigm. Model selection recognized that an adequate test of the observational learning theory would need to appropriately employ correlational data commonly found in suicide & parasuicide research. (13 refs.)