Genuine and simulated suicide notes: An analysis of content

Ioannou, Maria and Debowska, Agata (2014) Genuine and simulated suicide notes: An analysis of content. Forensic Science International, 245. pp. 151-160. ISSN 0379-0738

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Abstract

The present study examined genuine and simulated suicide notes aiming to identify the measures of content that best differentiate between the two. Thirty-three genuine and thirty-three simulated suicide notes were content-analysed and data subjected to smallest space analysis (SSA), a Multidimensional Scaling Procedure. The core of all suicide notes was discovered to be constructed with the use of three variables: expressions of love, positive construction of partner and apologies. Furthermore, four different genuine suicide note themes (‘planned escape’, ‘negative affect and self-mitigation’, ‘positive affect and failed relationship’, ‘lack of self-acceptance’) and three simulated suicide note themes (‘escape’, ‘positive affect and self-blame’, ‘purposeless life’) were identified revealing that authentic suicide note themes were more internally consistent and clearer to interpret.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) Q Science > Q Science (General)
Schools:	School of Human and Health Sciences School of Human and Health Sciences > Applied Criminology Centre
Related URLs:	Author
Depositing User:	Cherry Edmunds
Date Deposited:	18 Nov 2014 09:37
Last Modified:	01 Dec 2016 16:26
URI:	http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/22404

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