Attitudes toward the Survivors of Suicide as a Function of the Motive for Suicide

Abstract

The impact of the motives expressed in the suicide note on the reactions of the survivor of a suicide were explored by presenting respondents with cases of suicide to read and judge which were identical except for the suicide note which expressed either anger toward the survivor, self-blame, or the desire to escape from psychological pain. Respondents felt that it would be harder to express sympathy toward the survivors of suicides who expressed self-blame. The implications of this finding are discussed.