Cultural Scripts: Analysis of Suicide Location in Film, 1900–2013. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stack, Steven; Bowman, Barbara
• Is Part Of: Sociological focus. Volume 50:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 346
• Page End: 360
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Social sciences -- Periodicals; Sociology -- Periodicals; 301.05
• DOI: 10.1080/00380237.2017.1312980
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-0237

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Scripts in the cinema provide a cultural definition of suicide, including where suicide takes place. Using opportunity theory, this study examines the concept of "lethal locations" to address questions regarding movies as a risk factor for suicide: (1) Do cinematic scripts overrepresent lethal locations? (2) Given sociological changes, have cinematic scripts for lethal locations intensified over a century of film? and (3) Are scripts for lethal locations for suicide gendered, possibly accounting for large gender differences in suicide rates? Data are taken from the National Violent Death Reporting System and from cinematic suicides. Results show that cinematic scripts overrepresent suicides away from home. Cinematic scripts supported a gendered relationship, whereas females are more apt than males to suicide at home, a pattern consistent with lower female suicide rates. This is the first national study of American suicide location in the media and society.