TY - JOUR PY - 1953// TI - Suicide, Homicide, and Social Structure in Ceylon JO - American journal of sociology A1 - Straus, JH A1 - Straus, Murray A. SP - 461 EP - 469 VL - 58 IS - 5 N2 - Homicide rates in Ceylon are among the highest known, but suicide rates are low. In certain respects the pattern of suicide and homicide in Ceylon is essentially similar to that found for Western countries. Subcultural differences are important. A psycho-cultural theory of suicide and homicide is formulated with at least three basic elements: individual personality, tension situations, and culturally permissible alternatives. Variation in permissible alternatives due to the relative closeness or looseness of social organization is an important factor of suicide and homicide.

LA - SN - 0002-9602 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/221199 ID - ref1 ER -