Citation

Clark DA. Death Stud. 1992; 16(4): 299-316.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07481189208252579

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Early memories of adults were examined to assess the understanding of the concept of suicide from childhood experiences. Two sets of early memories were gathered in which subjects recalled their earliest suicide memory and their earliest suicidal thought. Content analysis of these memories revealed that between the ages of 8 and 12 initial exposure to suicide occurs predominately through impersonal means; at this level of suicide understanding, uncertainty surrounds the motivating factors of suicide. It was found that at approximately age 14, a mature adult conception of suicide existed. This was a time period in which individuals, for the first time, were beginning to think about killing themselves as a solution to personal conflict or emotional turmoil in their life.

FINDINGS support research relating to the areas of death conception and levels of cognitive functioning in children. Further areas of investigation are outlined.

Language: en