Victims of violent death: A critical review.

Abstract

This review assesses the present state of knowledge regarding victims of suicide, accidental death, and homicide and analyzes the formal characteristics of the empirical research models that have yielded this body of knowledge. It is shown that our knowledge of these victims and their circumstances is fragmented because few investigators have studied more than one mode of violent death and because few studies have examined data from both the individual and environmental levels of analysis. An analysis of the research models that have been used to study violent death reveals inherent limitations. Specifically, these empirical approaches are shown to have particular deficiencies in terms of their ability to reflect interactions between environmental and personal factors. In view of these problems, a research model better suited to interactionist analyses is developed, and its usefulness for further research is discussed.

The Influence of Economic Business Cycles on United States Suicide Rates

“…In order to determine the manner in which the economy influences the suicide rate it will be necessary to determine how the social environment (e.g., the neighborhood and urban structure) and individual social actors are influenced by these changes (Braucht, Loya and Jamieson, 1980). In order to accomplish this it will be necessary to deaggregate the suicide data by age, sex, race, marital status and class within various geographical areas in the nation.…”

Suicide among gifted women: A prospective study.

“…A related question concerns whether there are additional factors not noted by Shneidman that might predict female suicide. To answer these questions, the literature on suicide among females was examined (Braucht, Loya, & Jamieson, 1980;Cantor, 1976;Carlson & Miller, 1981;Goldney, Adam, O'Brien, & Termansen, 1981;Johnson, 1979;Lester, 1979;Neuringer, 1982aNeuringer, , 1982bWilson, 1981).…”

“…The present study was prompted by the obvious question “Will the signatures that Shneidman found among male suicides be useful in predicting suicide among females?” A related question concerns whether there are additional factors not noted by Shneidman that might predict female suicide. To answer these questions, the literature on suicide among females was examined (Braucht, Loya, & Jamieson, 1980; Cantor, 1976; Carlson & Miller, 1981; Goldney, Adam, O'Brien, & Termansen, 1981; Johnson, 1979; Lester, 1979; Neuringer, 1982a, 1982b; Wilson, 1981).…”

“…Working with variables suggested by these investigators, six categories, which encompassed most of the commonly proposed risk factors, were identified: (a) social and interpersonal problems, including social isolation, inadequate social support, loneliness, and disturbed interpersonal relationships; (b) loss of parents in childhood; (c) psychiatric and mental health problems; (d) alcohol abuse (numerous authors have found that individuals who are not coping very well are likely to turn to alcohol); (e) marital problems, divorce, and separation; and (f) physical health problems (see Bassuk, Schoonover, & Gill, 1982; Braucht et al, 1980; Choron, 1972; Farber, 1968; Gibbs, 1968; Hawton, 1982; Hendlin, 1982; Lester, 1983; McCulloch & Philip, 1972; Trout, 1980; and Worden, 1976).…”

The Effects of Sexually-Explicit and/or Violent Stimuli on the Use of Physical or Sexual Coercion Within Dating Relationships

“…These measures are not only somewhat unrealistic when compared with actually occurring interpersonal aggression, but they are also appropriate only if the findings are to be generalized to the probability of stranger assault. There is wide agreement among researchers, however, that this type of aggression is actually quite rare (e.g., Braucht, Loya, & Jamieson, 1980;Skelton, 1982).…”