Citation

Hjelmeland H, Loa Knizek B. Death Stud. 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-11.

Affiliation

Department of Mental Health , Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07481187.2018.1527796

PMID

30696383

Abstract

The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide currently seems to be the most popular theory in suicidology. It posits that suicide can be explained by the simultaneous presence of three risk factors only, namely acquired capability for suicide, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness. Suicide is, however, widely accepted as a complex, multifactorial, and contextual phenomenon. It is, therefore, surprising that a theory comprised by three internal factors only is so uncritically embraced by suicide researchers. In this article, we scrutinize the theory's background, core components, and purported empirical evidence and argue that its popularity is highly unwarranted.

Language: en