African American Adolescent Suicide
Running head: AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
1
An Exploration of the African- American Adolescent Male and Suicide
Tonya V. Fentress
Norfolk State University
Author Note
Tonya V. Fentress, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Norfolk State University.
Correspondence concerning this paper should be addressed to Tonya V. Fentress, Department of
Interdisciplinary Studies, Norfolk State University, 700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23504.EMail: t.l.valentine@spartans.nsu.edu
Running head: RISE IN SUICIDES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEEN MALES
2
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to use two theories from two disciplines to create a new hybrid theory. The new hybrid theory explains factors that contribute to the …show more content…
rate of increase of suicides in African-American Teen Males population within the last 10 years. Beck’s cognitive behavior theory from behavior psychology and Durkheim’s suicide/social integration and moral regulation theory lend much insight to creating a new hybrid theory which explains the factors of rising suicides of African-American Teen Males.
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
3
An Exploration of the African- American Adolescent Male and Suicide
According to the American Association of Suicidology, the rate of suicides among
African-American Males rose rapidly in the late 1980’s, peaked in the late 1990’s and the percentages are significant currently (http://www.suicidology.org). As of late, the numbers decreased but still carries a stigma within the African-American community. Studies are not as prevalent in the African-American community as is other ethic groups. Wilson’s (1987, 1996) deindustrialization thesis focuses on the research of young African-American Males increased suicides rate being a by product of macro-social characteristics of society (Kubrin, Wadsworth,
& DiPietro, 2006, p. 1559). Negating the perception that suicide is not a problem in the AfricanAmerica community, particularly young males as the statistics indicate the vast increase of 146% suicides during 1980-1995 (CDC 1998: 194) is a plausible reason to look to a theory to gain a holistic approach to this phenomenon.
Being a mother to a young African American male, this societal issue of the increased rate of suicides is alarming and the factors that contribute to this phenomenon are as well. I intend on providing information to my son and other’s in my sphere of influence the warning signs and other indicators that can prevent this horrific tragedy that plagues the AfricanAmerican community. The research of Suicides among African-American young males has many theories as to why it happens, as well as the sources of what leads them to this selfdestructive behavior. I in my research will not attempt to solve the phenomenon in this paper, but will formulate a representative model of causes of increased rate of Suicides in AfricanAmerican Teen Males.
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
4
Research Map
What is the purpose of the research?
To Explore the African-American Adolescent Male and Suicide
What are the assumptions of each discipline?
What disciplines are potentially relevant?
Psychology
Sociology
History
Economics
Applied Professional
Psychology- Because of others' inability to directly occupy the mental world of the suicidal, suicide appears to elude easy explanation Sociology – The idea that AfricanAmerican’s do not commit suicide.
History – Suicide is limited to an ethnic group. Economics – Economic conditions dictate suicide Applied Professional – Stigma causes the individual not to seek help.
What are the perspectives of each discipline on the problem?
Psychology – Cognitive Behavior Theory
Hopelessness Theory
Sociology – Suicide..Social Integration and Moral Regulation
History – Prior to 1980 there were not many Suicides reported in the United
States.
Economist – Poverty is viewed a dominant factor in Depression
Are there any non disciplinary sources or interpretations? No.
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
5
The Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Behavior Theory basic concept addresses three important factor’s the way we think about ourselves, the way we feel, and the way we act (Smith, 2009).
The results of these thoughts in the negative sense as behavioral theorist suggest lead to depression.
Having the occasional short term feelings of the blues or down in the dumps is an emotional state that most individuals get past. Severe despondency, dejection along with hopelessness and inadequacy set in an individual that is deemed a level of major depression, according to Webster.
A major catalyst of suicide is major depression which in influenced by our cognition of ourselves. Beck’s Cognitive Behavior Theory foundation is the belief system of an individual. He believes that negative thoughts are the core of the psychological path of destruction. According to Beck,
If beliefs do not change there is no improvement. If beliefs change, symptom’s change. Beliefs function as little operational units. (Martin, 2011). The approach to this phenomenon from Beck resulted in his Cognitive Behavioral Techniques to help modify a person’s behavioral patterns.
During the sessions patients would go through a series of how to perceive their thoughts as positive thoughts versus negative. Beck’s model is based on the theory of psychopathology …show more content…
and is illustrated by how people’s perception of, or spontaneous thoughts about situations influence their emotional, behavioral (and often physiological) reactions (Smith, 2009). Behavior and cognition are so closely linked that one influences the other.
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
6
Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Therapy
Figure 1. Adapted from Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Behavioral Theory in Personality theories: and introduction by B. Engler. Copyright 2009 by Houghton Mifflin
In Figure 1 , the individual is challenged by a positive representation, the angel and a evil representation the devil. The positive side of the map indicates the individual being an active participant in how her thoughts are of her own volition. Whereas the evil side of the spectrum
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
7
indicate our cultivation, the part of the scheme that we did not directly influence. The factors of the model demonstrate the ease if not channeled properly the feeling of hopelessness and despair that one’s cognition can lead them to the self-destructive behavior of suicide.
Emile Durkheim’s Suicide Theory
The theory of low socially integrated societies suicide rates are higher that those that are more organized is what the basis of Durkheim’s Theory rest. Durkheim unlike some other scholars during his era, namely Max Weber focused on individuals, but Durkheim’s primary concern was how society functioned as a holistically. He looked at the society and how order was maintained amongst people of different religious and ethnic groups. Durkheim in his work The Division of
Labor in Society examined how social order was maintained by way of mechanical or organic.(Durkheim, c1993) The mechanical society is one that is self-sufficient and relies on one another whereas the organic society works for wages creating divisions that lead to ever changing societies and creates confusion. The confusion of breakdown of social norm that regulate behavior Durkheim labels as the state of anomie. The deviant behavior stem from this state is most notably suicide (Bearman, 1991,).
Durkheim’s four types of suicide (After Pope 1976)
Anomic
Suicide
(not enough regulation) Integration
Altruistic suicide
(too much integration)
Regulation
Egoistic Suicide
(not enough integration)
Fatalistic suicide
(too much regulation) AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
8
Figure 2.
Adapted from A Test of Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide- Without Committing the
Ecological Fallacy by Franz van Poppel and Lincoln H Day. P. 500-507. Copyright 1996 by
ASR.
Figure 2 shows the Durkheim’s theory as it relates to an individual’s social integration as to how he relates to stressors in his life due to an ever-changing society. The (1) Altruistic
Suicide – the result of a code of behavior requiring to take his own life in certain situations
(kamikaze or terrorist attack); (2) Egoistic Suicide – stemming from feelings of extreme isolation and the severely diminished from feelings of extreme isolation and the severely commitment of an individual to societal groups (e.g. being a loner or outsider); (3) Anomie Suicide – caused by feelings of normlessness and rootlessness resulting from the radical changes in one’s life, such that existing norms and values are meaningless(e.g. experiencing loss or gain of income); and
Fatalistic Suicide – precipitated by feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, and or disenfranchisement, specifically when an individual feels their existence is miserable and
that they have no ability to improve their situation (e.g. slavery, incarceration) (WILLIS, COOMBS,
COCKERHAM, & FRISON, 2002) .
.Hybrid Theory
The hybrid theory combines Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Emile
Durkheim’s theory of suicide to lend key factors in creating the African-American adolescent male Cognitive Suicide theory. Beck’s Cognitive Behavioral Theory the thoughts that dominant an individual determine what they think the world thinks of them. The notion of this type of behavior may lend itself to self-destructive actions namely suicide. The feelings of inadequacy along with hopelessness are key factors in depression that Beck used in diagnosing subjects.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy guiding principle is that the driving force of mental dysfunction
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
9
are habitual , unrealistic self-defeating ideas automatic thoughts in the clinical parlance that lie tinted lenses, color one’s perception of and therefore one’s reactions to the external world
(Smith, 2009). As one of the most utilized psychological health practices, Cognitive Behavior
Therapy is beneficial to those that seek the treatment. The seeking of the treatment is the complex issue the African-American community lacks and how to address this topic in future research. Suicide Theory
Statistics show that suicide is the third leading cause of death for African-American adolescent males.
(National Center for Health Statistics Health Data
Interactive, 2008). Suicide according to Webster is defined as the act or instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally especially by a person of years of discretion and of sound mind. Understanding the phenomenon of suicide in the African-American community particularly adolescent males an examination of Emile
Durkheim’s theory of suicide. is used.
Durkheim theory essentially states that due to one’s social integration determines how well they cope and deal with life’s stressors (Bearman,
1991).
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
10
African American
Adolescent Male
Cognitive Suicide Hybrid
Family
Integration/Parental
Regulation
Suicide Theory
Cognitive
Behavioral
Techniques
Cognitive
Behavior
Theory
FIGURE 3 African-American Adolescent Male Cognitive Suicide Model Hybrid Model by T. V. Fentress, 2011
The hybrid encompasses the cognitive behavior theory with its techniques to address the physiological factors and the suicide model that shows the social integration structures and how
African-American adolescent males deal with life stressor by family support and parental regulation. The direct correlation of one’s thought and perception determine their overall mental stability which leads to solutions as to how life’s problems are handled, thus reducing the suicide rate of African-American adolescent males.
Discussion
The hybrid model uses the cognitive behavior and suicide theory in an allencompassing attempt to further research the increased rate of suicides in African-American adolescent males. The ability to study subjects using these techniques is the nucleus of a societal issue that spiked without any logical explanation.
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
References
Bearman, P. S. (1991). The Social Structure of Suicide. Sociological Forum, 6(3), 501.
Durkheim, E. (1933). The division of labor in society. New York: Free Press of Glencoe.
National Center for Health Statistics Health Data Interactive. (2008). www.cdc.gov
Smith, D. B. (2009). The Doctor Is IN: At 88, Aaron Beck is now revered for an approach to
Van Poppel, F., & Day, L. H. (1996). A Test of Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide-Without
Committing the Ecological Fallacy ASR 61(3), 500-507. Retrieved from http://www.public.iastate.edu WILLIS, L. A., COOMBS, D. W., COCKERHAM, W. C., & FRISON, S. L. (2002). Ready to die: a postmodern interpretation of the increase of African-American adolescent male suicide. Social Science & Medicine, 55(6), 907.
11
1
An Exploration of the African- American Adolescent Male and Suicide
Tonya V. Fentress
Norfolk State University
Author Note
Tonya V. Fentress, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Norfolk State University.
Correspondence concerning this paper should be addressed to Tonya V. Fentress, Department of
Interdisciplinary Studies, Norfolk State University, 700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23504.EMail: t.l.valentine@spartans.nsu.edu
Running head: RISE IN SUICIDES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEEN MALES
2
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to use two theories from two disciplines to create a new hybrid theory. The new hybrid theory explains factors that contribute to the …show more content…
rate of increase of suicides in African-American Teen Males population within the last 10 years. Beck’s cognitive behavior theory from behavior psychology and Durkheim’s suicide/social integration and moral regulation theory lend much insight to creating a new hybrid theory which explains the factors of rising suicides of African-American Teen Males.
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
3
An Exploration of the African- American Adolescent Male and Suicide
According to the American Association of Suicidology, the rate of suicides among
African-American Males rose rapidly in the late 1980’s, peaked in the late 1990’s and the percentages are significant currently (http://www.suicidology.org). As of late, the numbers decreased but still carries a stigma within the African-American community. Studies are not as prevalent in the African-American community as is other ethic groups. Wilson’s (1987, 1996) deindustrialization thesis focuses on the research of young African-American Males increased suicides rate being a by product of macro-social characteristics of society (Kubrin, Wadsworth,
& DiPietro, 2006, p. 1559). Negating the perception that suicide is not a problem in the AfricanAmerica community, particularly young males as the statistics indicate the vast increase of 146% suicides during 1980-1995 (CDC 1998: 194) is a plausible reason to look to a theory to gain a holistic approach to this phenomenon.
Being a mother to a young African American male, this societal issue of the increased rate of suicides is alarming and the factors that contribute to this phenomenon are as well. I intend on providing information to my son and other’s in my sphere of influence the warning signs and other indicators that can prevent this horrific tragedy that plagues the AfricanAmerican community. The research of Suicides among African-American young males has many theories as to why it happens, as well as the sources of what leads them to this selfdestructive behavior. I in my research will not attempt to solve the phenomenon in this paper, but will formulate a representative model of causes of increased rate of Suicides in AfricanAmerican Teen Males.
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
4
Research Map
What is the purpose of the research?
To Explore the African-American Adolescent Male and Suicide
What are the assumptions of each discipline?
What disciplines are potentially relevant?
Psychology
Sociology
History
Economics
Applied Professional
Psychology- Because of others' inability to directly occupy the mental world of the suicidal, suicide appears to elude easy explanation Sociology – The idea that AfricanAmerican’s do not commit suicide.
History – Suicide is limited to an ethnic group. Economics – Economic conditions dictate suicide Applied Professional – Stigma causes the individual not to seek help.
What are the perspectives of each discipline on the problem?
Psychology – Cognitive Behavior Theory
Hopelessness Theory
Sociology – Suicide..Social Integration and Moral Regulation
History – Prior to 1980 there were not many Suicides reported in the United
States.
Economist – Poverty is viewed a dominant factor in Depression
Are there any non disciplinary sources or interpretations? No.
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
5
The Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Behavior Theory basic concept addresses three important factor’s the way we think about ourselves, the way we feel, and the way we act (Smith, 2009).
The results of these thoughts in the negative sense as behavioral theorist suggest lead to depression.
Having the occasional short term feelings of the blues or down in the dumps is an emotional state that most individuals get past. Severe despondency, dejection along with hopelessness and inadequacy set in an individual that is deemed a level of major depression, according to Webster.
A major catalyst of suicide is major depression which in influenced by our cognition of ourselves. Beck’s Cognitive Behavior Theory foundation is the belief system of an individual. He believes that negative thoughts are the core of the psychological path of destruction. According to Beck,
If beliefs do not change there is no improvement. If beliefs change, symptom’s change. Beliefs function as little operational units. (Martin, 2011). The approach to this phenomenon from Beck resulted in his Cognitive Behavioral Techniques to help modify a person’s behavioral patterns.
During the sessions patients would go through a series of how to perceive their thoughts as positive thoughts versus negative. Beck’s model is based on the theory of psychopathology …show more content…
and is illustrated by how people’s perception of, or spontaneous thoughts about situations influence their emotional, behavioral (and often physiological) reactions (Smith, 2009). Behavior and cognition are so closely linked that one influences the other.
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
6
Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Therapy
Figure 1. Adapted from Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Behavioral Theory in Personality theories: and introduction by B. Engler. Copyright 2009 by Houghton Mifflin
In Figure 1 , the individual is challenged by a positive representation, the angel and a evil representation the devil. The positive side of the map indicates the individual being an active participant in how her thoughts are of her own volition. Whereas the evil side of the spectrum
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
7
indicate our cultivation, the part of the scheme that we did not directly influence. The factors of the model demonstrate the ease if not channeled properly the feeling of hopelessness and despair that one’s cognition can lead them to the self-destructive behavior of suicide.
Emile Durkheim’s Suicide Theory
The theory of low socially integrated societies suicide rates are higher that those that are more organized is what the basis of Durkheim’s Theory rest. Durkheim unlike some other scholars during his era, namely Max Weber focused on individuals, but Durkheim’s primary concern was how society functioned as a holistically. He looked at the society and how order was maintained amongst people of different religious and ethnic groups. Durkheim in his work The Division of
Labor in Society examined how social order was maintained by way of mechanical or organic.(Durkheim, c1993) The mechanical society is one that is self-sufficient and relies on one another whereas the organic society works for wages creating divisions that lead to ever changing societies and creates confusion. The confusion of breakdown of social norm that regulate behavior Durkheim labels as the state of anomie. The deviant behavior stem from this state is most notably suicide (Bearman, 1991,).
Durkheim’s four types of suicide (After Pope 1976)
Anomic
Suicide
(not enough regulation) Integration
Altruistic suicide
(too much integration)
Regulation
Egoistic Suicide
(not enough integration)
Fatalistic suicide
(too much regulation) AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
8
Figure 2.
Adapted from A Test of Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide- Without Committing the
Ecological Fallacy by Franz van Poppel and Lincoln H Day. P. 500-507. Copyright 1996 by
ASR.
Figure 2 shows the Durkheim’s theory as it relates to an individual’s social integration as to how he relates to stressors in his life due to an ever-changing society. The (1) Altruistic
Suicide – the result of a code of behavior requiring to take his own life in certain situations
(kamikaze or terrorist attack); (2) Egoistic Suicide – stemming from feelings of extreme isolation and the severely diminished from feelings of extreme isolation and the severely commitment of an individual to societal groups (e.g. being a loner or outsider); (3) Anomie Suicide – caused by feelings of normlessness and rootlessness resulting from the radical changes in one’s life, such that existing norms and values are meaningless(e.g. experiencing loss or gain of income); and
Fatalistic Suicide – precipitated by feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, and or disenfranchisement, specifically when an individual feels their existence is miserable and
that they have no ability to improve their situation (e.g. slavery, incarceration) (WILLIS, COOMBS,
COCKERHAM, & FRISON, 2002) .
.Hybrid Theory
The hybrid theory combines Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Emile
Durkheim’s theory of suicide to lend key factors in creating the African-American adolescent male Cognitive Suicide theory. Beck’s Cognitive Behavioral Theory the thoughts that dominant an individual determine what they think the world thinks of them. The notion of this type of behavior may lend itself to self-destructive actions namely suicide. The feelings of inadequacy along with hopelessness are key factors in depression that Beck used in diagnosing subjects.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy guiding principle is that the driving force of mental dysfunction
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
9
are habitual , unrealistic self-defeating ideas automatic thoughts in the clinical parlance that lie tinted lenses, color one’s perception of and therefore one’s reactions to the external world
(Smith, 2009). As one of the most utilized psychological health practices, Cognitive Behavior
Therapy is beneficial to those that seek the treatment. The seeking of the treatment is the complex issue the African-American community lacks and how to address this topic in future research. Suicide Theory
Statistics show that suicide is the third leading cause of death for African-American adolescent males.
(National Center for Health Statistics Health Data
Interactive, 2008). Suicide according to Webster is defined as the act or instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally especially by a person of years of discretion and of sound mind. Understanding the phenomenon of suicide in the African-American community particularly adolescent males an examination of Emile
Durkheim’s theory of suicide. is used.
Durkheim theory essentially states that due to one’s social integration determines how well they cope and deal with life’s stressors (Bearman,
1991).
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
10
African American
Adolescent Male
Cognitive Suicide Hybrid
Family
Integration/Parental
Regulation
Suicide Theory
Cognitive
Behavioral
Techniques
Cognitive
Behavior
Theory
FIGURE 3 African-American Adolescent Male Cognitive Suicide Model Hybrid Model by T. V. Fentress, 2011
The hybrid encompasses the cognitive behavior theory with its techniques to address the physiological factors and the suicide model that shows the social integration structures and how
African-American adolescent males deal with life stressor by family support and parental regulation. The direct correlation of one’s thought and perception determine their overall mental stability which leads to solutions as to how life’s problems are handled, thus reducing the suicide rate of African-American adolescent males.
Discussion
The hybrid model uses the cognitive behavior and suicide theory in an allencompassing attempt to further research the increased rate of suicides in African-American adolescent males. The ability to study subjects using these techniques is the nucleus of a societal issue that spiked without any logical explanation.
AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE
References
Bearman, P. S. (1991). The Social Structure of Suicide. Sociological Forum, 6(3), 501.
Durkheim, E. (1933). The division of labor in society. New York: Free Press of Glencoe.
National Center for Health Statistics Health Data Interactive. (2008). www.cdc.gov
Smith, D. B. (2009). The Doctor Is IN: At 88, Aaron Beck is now revered for an approach to
Van Poppel, F., & Day, L. H. (1996). A Test of Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide-Without
Committing the Ecological Fallacy ASR 61(3), 500-507. Retrieved from http://www.public.iastate.edu WILLIS, L. A., COOMBS, D. W., COCKERHAM, W. C., & FRISON, S. L. (2002). Ready to die: a postmodern interpretation of the increase of African-American adolescent male suicide. Social Science & Medicine, 55(6), 907.
11