Accurately Imagining Suicide: Imagine-Self, Imagine-Person, Observer Instructions

Possible actor/observer effects in students when reacting to a suicidal crisis was studied. Students who were suicidal in the past, as well as controls, were instructed to complete questionnaires which asked them to imagine scenarios in which they themselves, as well as another person, were suicidal. The results show that nonsuicidal college students underestimate their suicidal peer’s social support. Both actors & observers tend to blame suicide on the situation rather than personality flaws.