African American Adolescent Suicide

Running head: AFRICAN- AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES AND SUICIDE

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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: [e-mail]

Running head: RISE IN SUICIDES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEEN MALES

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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
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
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