Year: 1995 Source: Cross-Cultural Research, v.29, no.1, (February 1995), p.58-69 SIEC No: 19990540

The thwarting disorientation theory of suicide proposed by Naroll is described. Empirical tests of Naroll’s theory, conducted by him & others, are reviewed & found to be supportive of the theory. Naroll’s idea that suicide may be used as an index of the quality of a culture is described & found to be consistent with the views of modern commentators concerned about the rising suicide rate in modern industrialized societies. (24 refs.)