Can Shneidman's "Ten Commonalities of Suicide" accommodate rational suicide?
Shneidman's (1985) commonly reproduced "Ten Commonalities of Suicide" cannot accommodate rational suicide, as the concept has been defined in recent literature, and therefore are not "commonalities" of all suicides. Quotes from Shneidman describing the "commonalities" are provided and selected items are briefly examined in light of one set of criteria for rational suicide. It is suggested that Shneidman's list, which is inherently biased against allowing for the possibility of rational suicide, be renamed so that its contents will not continue to be inappropriately used as evidence that suicide cannot be rational.
University of Arkansas, Counseling and Psychological Services, Fayetteville 72701, USA.
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JL
Werth
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D008128:Logic; D008603:Mental Health; D013240:Stereotyping; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*; D009626:Terminology as Topic