Banality reinvestigated: A computer-based content analysis of suicidal and forced death documents.
Suicide and simulated notes and forced-death documents were processed on the Harvard III Psycho-Sociological Dictionary. For each text, frequencies of related words were generated; these were contrasted with each other and with baseline data using z scores. The results indicated that the suicidal groups were more "deviant." Other findings are concreteness and constriction of focus for suicides--a pattern suggesting denial just prior to the deed. The forced-death group seemed to be more meaningfully in contact with life and aware of responsibility. The stimulated group appeared to be fabricating a popular stereotype rather than exhibiting empathy. Implications were discussed.
D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003071:Cognition; D003201:Computers; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005190:Family; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D009769:Object Attachment; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012918:Social Alienation; D013405:Suicide; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D014825:Vocabulary