Attitudes to Taking Human Life

Public Attitudes Toward Legal Abortion, Euthanasia, Suicide, and Capital Punishment

“…Tamney, Johnson, and Burton (1992) similarly found that a measure of “all life,” which asked respondents whether capital punishment and euthanasia should be eliminated to preserve life, had no direct or indirect relationship with abortion attitudes. Several factor analyses have uniformly found two factors in respondents’ attitudes toward abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment, with abortion and euthanasia loading on one factor and capital punishment on the other (Beswick, 1970; Cleghorn, 1986; Kalish, 1963 in MacNair). Interpretations of these results showing no attitudinal consistency across issues have varied considerably.…”

“…Interpretations of these results showing no attitudinal consistency across issues have varied considerably. These observed inconsistencies may be due to differences in the way people perceive personal morality versus social/political policies (Bogue, 2008; Cleghorn, 1986), death caused by oneself or death of another (Lester et al, 1990), or proactive versus reactive killing (Beswick, 1970).…”

Acceptance of Conditional Suicide and Euthanasia among Adult Americans

“…To date, few studies have adequately examined attitudes toward suicide or euthanasia (Kalish et al, 1972). The studies conducted in this area have been based on samples from restricted populations (Kalish, 1963; Kalish et al, 1972; Beswick, 1970), or are largely impressionistic (Douglas, 1967a; Speijer, 1975).…”

“…Indeed, approximately one‐third of their student sample believed that “suicide is good.” Beswick's (1970) Australian data revealed that sex, religion and religiosity were related to acceptance of “mercy killing.” Females, Catholics, and highly religious individuals were all less likely to tolerate euthanasia. Beswick (1970) found no relationship between age or education and attitudes toward euthanasia. Speijer (1975), utilizing his own impressions stated that Dutch society is tolerant of suicide and euthanasia.…”

Suicide Ideation and Suicide Attempt among Asian American Youth in United States: Examining the Effects of Parental Support, Educational Satisfaction, Exposure to Suicidal Behaviors and Religion Affiliation

“…While opinion polls continue to show substantial public disapproval (Gallup, 1978), survey studies were reporting significant support for the rights of suicide victims as early as 1970 (Beswick, 1970). In previous study (Domino et al, 1980), 12% of the respondents felt that society had no right to interfere with the wishes of suicide victims.…”