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Vocabularies of Motive and Suicide
Author(s) -
Stephens B. Joyce
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1984.tb00679.x
Subject(s) - vocabulary , suicide prevention , meaning (existential) , psychology , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , social psychology , injury prevention , standardization , occupational safety and health , psychotherapist , medicine , medical emergency , linguistics , law , political science , philosophy , pathology
This paper presents a brief review of the vocabulary of motives tradition in sociology and argues for its applicability to the study of suicidal motivation. A comparison of motive statements in the notes of suicides and motive statements elicited from a nonsuicidal group reveals a measure of motive standardization. The findings promote viewing suicide motives as social constructions learned in interaction which permit the individual and others to assign meaning and acceptability to the suicidal act.