Suicide
Theory, Practice and Investigation
- Ronald M. Holmes - University of Louisville, USA
- Stephen T. Holmes - University of Central Florida, USA
Suicide is an ageless concern that has been with us as long as man has existed. Forbidden by all religions, suicide has nonetheless become such a practical problem that it is now an everyday concern, resulting in more annual deaths than homicide. Suicide must be seen as a societal and personal problem—it is a complex act with no simple explanation. The motivation is multifaceted, often not understood by the family or by other survivors.
Suicide: Theory, Practice and Investigation is the only text available in paperback form that offers an accessible overview of suicide in the United States. Written by Ronald M. Holmes and Stephen T. Holmes, two of the foremost authors of murder and violent crime books in the world, this book examines the social problem and criminal justice concerns of suicide from unique perspectives. The authors discuss the various forms of suicide and analyze the latest data on regional differences and how gender, marital status, occupation, health, drug use, and religion all influence the practice of suicide.
Key Features:
- Analyzes suicide letters to provide students with unique perspectives not found in other books
- Covers investigative techniques that will be of interest to professionals and students alike
- Includes carefully selected photos to explicate the material covered
- Categorizes suicide into different types including anomic, egoistic, altruistic, and fatalistic to distinguish the various reasons for which people have taken their own lives
- Integrates notes within the chapters to show the state of mind for those who commit suicide
- Explores learnings from suicidal behavior to help readers recognize how better to prevent the practice
Suicide is designed for undergraduate and graduate courses in departments of Criminology, Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Forensic Science. In addition, it can also be used for a variety of other courses, including Psychopathology, Sociology of Deviance, Abnormal Psychology, and Violent Crimes. This book will also be of interest to anyone looking for a clear understanding of the extent of suicide in the United States.
Ronald Holmes and Stephen Holmes offer a unique text aimed primarily at criminal justice undergraduates, though other behavioral science students will find this work a helpful reference text, too. . . . What makes this work distinctive is its forensic science overlay, as the authors offer detailed coverage on suicide notes and methods.
Suicide rates are on the increase, online courses are availabke to raise wawareness, this book explains in detail how to react, deal and attend to people who are suicidal
A fascinating read, but perhaps not as comprehasnsive as needed for my course
Very helpful for students wanting a depth understanding - but not much for application of concepts in counselling and psychotherapy practice.
This book has been very useful in understanding the thought and behaviour processes behind suicide. A really interesting read. The learners found it very insightful and interesting.
A very unique text which will enable students studying criminal psychology to explore the complexities of suicide. Presented in a student friendly and comprehensive format.
