Why People Die by Suicide by Thomas E. Joiner

perceived burdensomeness) predicted current suicidal ideation, beyond depression indices. social alienation or low belonging) and feeling that one does not matter (cf. In Study 1, the interaction of (low) family social support (cf. This capability develops through exposure and thus habituation to painful and/or fearsome experiences and is posited by the theory to be necessary for overcoming powerful self-preservation pressures. Joiner, 2005) makes 2 overarching predictions: (a) that perceptions of burdening others and of social alienation combine to instill the desire for death and (b) that individuals will not act on the desire for death unless they have developed the capability to do so. Joiner’s is a work that makes sense of the bewildering array of statistics and stories surrounding suicidal behavior at the same time, it offers insight, guidance, and essential information to clinicians, scientists, and health practitioners, and to anyone whose life has been affected by suicide.The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior (T.E.

The result is the most coherent and persuasive explanation ever given of why and how people overcome life’s strongest instinct, self-preservation. Joiner tests his theory against diverse facts taken from clinical anecdotes, history, literature, popular culture, anthropology, epidemiology, genetics, and neurobiology-facts about suicide rates among men and women white and African-American men anorexics, athletes, prostitutes, and physicians members of cults, sports fans, and citizens of nations in crisis. Among the many people who have considered, attempted, or died by suicide, he finds three factors that mark those most at risk of death: the feeling of being a burden on loved ones the sense of isolation and, chillingly, the learned ability to hurt oneself. In the wake of a suicide, the most troubling questions are invariably the most difficult to answer: How could we have known? What could we have done? And always, unremittingly: Why? Written by a clinical psychologist whose own life has been touched by suicide, this book offers the clearest account ever given of why some people choose to die.ĭrawing on extensive clinical and epidemiological evidence, as well as personal experience, Thomas Joiner brings a comprehensive understanding to seemingly incomprehensible behavior.

Why People Die by Suicide by Thomas E. Joiner