This research examined attributions that female and male college students made about an individual who committed suicide. The gender of the victim and whether alcohol use was involved were systematically varied. Results indicated that female and male respondents see the issues involved in suicide differently. Female respondents appear to place more emphasis on contextual clues such as alcohol use and gender of the actor. In addition, both female and male respondents tended to associate alcohol use and suicide for male actors but not for female actors. These results are discussed in terms of stereotypes that may be held for females and males vis-a-vis emotional expression and alcohol use. The use of population base rates in attributions about suicide and alcohol use is also considered. Directions for future research are also presented.
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