Fusion and Frustration: Dimensions in the Cross‐Cultural Ethnopsychology of Suicide¹

Abstract

"Sociological" explanations of suicide have not been adequate to explain the varying forms and rates of suicide cross-culturally. Viewing the interrelationship of child rearing, social structure, and cultural values in light of a theory that stresses the "magical thinking" aspect of suicide offers an alternative explanation for cross-cultural variation.UICIDE HAS BEEN studied cross-cul-

Introduction: Suicide in South Asia: Ethnographic perspectives

“…Others have made more particular criticisms of Durkheim's approach. For example, it is unclear why suicide rather than another course of action is 'a likely consequence of the particular structural conditions posited as the independent variable' (Atkinson 1978: 14-15, cited in Brown 1986; see also Hippler 1969Hippler : 1075). Durkheim's line of reasoning does not explain why one might respond to anomie by taking poison or selfimmolation rather than, say, running away or murdering someone.…”

Pistes de recherche sur les sens du suicide des adolescents inuit

“…Sans pouvoir élaborer ici, il faut indiquer, pour d'éventuelles recherches, que Hippler (1969) s'est intéressé à la correspondance pouvant exister entre le suicide et le type d'élevage des enfants dans plusieurs sociétés, incluant les Inuit. Il propose l'existence d'un lien structural entre l'attachement fusionnel avec la mère dont l'enfant inuit fait l'objet, le grand interdit d'expression de l'agressivité et la propension au suicide comme solution ultime du rejet amoureux.…”