Towards a Theory of Suicide: The Case for Modern Fatalism

Abstract

This paper explores the empirical relationship between fatalism and suicide in a population of youthful victims. Content analysis of case histories and suicide notes was conducted for 132 individuals between the ages of twelve and thirty-four. Almost one-third (N = 43) of the youthful suicide victims were found to have experienced fatalistic thought-ways prior to their death. A model of fatalistic suicide based upon salient interdisciplinary observations consistent with a fatalistic explanation of youthful suicide is presented. Results are discussed relative to a specific population of victims in the light of a theoretical statement promulgating the relationship between a fatalistic social condition and youthful suicide.