Psychologists and Psychologists-in-Training: Predictors of Attitudes toward Rational Suicide

Abstract

Predictors of attitudes toward rational suicide were explored for psychologists and psychologists-in-training. Political ideology, rate of religious attendance, and experience with rationally suicidal clients were statistically significant predictors of attitudes toward rational suicide. In contrast, participant professional status, whether identifying as a psychologist or a psychologist-in-training, failed to reach statistical significance. It was also found that extent of efforts to prevent suicide did not have a relationship with attitudes toward the right to engage in rational suicide. Given that two of the three significant predictors of attitudes toward rational suicide concerned personal values suggested that professional training may have little impact on opinions on the topic.

Keywords: suicide, rational suicide