A last defence: the negotiation of blame within suicide notes

Abstract

This paper presents a discursive analysis of 172 suicide notes left by 120 suicide victims. Instead of searching for the underlying psychological reasons for suicide in the content of notes, we argue that such notes should be viewed as acts of communication which serve to manage the blame accorded to both author and recipients of the suicide note. Consequently notes may provide evidence of socially shared beliefs as to when suicide is more or less acceptable. The analysis largely confirms this approach. It is found that matters relating to blame are referred to more frequently than any other issue (87% of notes). The precise arguments which are used to justify the actions of both self and others are then described in detail and some evidence is provided that the nature of these arguments may vary as a function of the social position of the author and also the identity of the recipient. The implications of these findings, and for a general use of a discursive approach to suicide, are then discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Genuine and simulated suicide notes: An analysis of content

“…Interestingly, leaving instructions [20,19,15] as well as constriction [19,3] are listed to be at the psychological epicentre of suicide notes, however, as established by the present study, the two variables are common but only among genuine messages. Even more, negotiations of blame, and specifically self-mitigation, [15] were used significantly more often by truly suicidal individuals. Arrestingly, the theme of constriction can be found in the 'neutral' region of the all notes SSA plot, which signifies that dichotomous pattern of thinking, described by Shneidman [7] to be a process that triggers suicidal act, is not exclusive to suicidal persons, yet it is not as ubiquitous as the variables found at the nucleus.…”

“…Indeed, the researchers contend that most suicide notes are apologetic, include expressions of love and, as added by Giles (2007), expose positive constructions of others. Interestingly, leaving instructions [20,19,15] as well as constriction [19,3] are listed to be at the psychological epicentre of suicide notes, however, as established by the present study, the two variables are common but only among genuine messages. Even more, negotiations of blame, and specifically self-mitigation, [15] were used significantly more often by truly suicidal individuals.…”

“…Notwithstanding, Giles [19], Foster [20], Langer et al [3] and McClelland's [15] results have been partly reaffirmed. Indeed, the researchers contend that most suicide notes are apologetic, include expressions of love and, as added by Giles (2007), expose positive constructions of others.…”

“…Fictitious note writers express more anger and blame others for their predicament due to their stereotyped ideas of suicide. Nevertheless, McClelland, Reicher and Booth [15] claim that genuine suicide notes also contain references to socially shared representations of suicide.…”

“…By the same token, Foster's [20] analysis revealed most universal variables to be apologies/shame, expressions of love, unbearable life, instructions, nothing to live for and advice. McClelland's [15] core themes were found to be blame negotiation (self-blame/ other-blame/ self-mitigation), causes of suicide, expressions of love, apologies, instructions, will, asking for forgiveness as well as thanking. Similarly, Langer et al [3] maintain that a large number of suicide messages contains apologies and clauses indicative of the tunnel vision.…”