Learning About Suicide from the Diary of Cesare Pavese

Crisis ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 222-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Word Count ◽  
Suicide Notes ◽  
Cesare Pavese ◽  
Insight Into

Background: The study of the diaries of suicides presents an opportunity for greater insight into the psychodynamics of suicide than does the study of suicide notes. Aims: The present study analyzed the last year of the published diary of the Italian writer, Cesare Pavese (1908–1950), to identify changes in the content over the last year of his life. Methods: The last year of the published diary was analyzed using the Linguistic Word Count program. Results: The proportion of words related to positive emotions and optimism increased over the last year of Pavese’s life, and the entries became less complex and more self-oriented. Conclusions: The results confirm the changes in mood documented in diaries and letters from suicides in previous research, and extend the research to published diaries of famous individuals and in transition.

The Content of Suicide Notes from Attempters and Completers

Crisis ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori D. Handelman ◽  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
Text Analysis ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Analysis Program ◽  
Word Count ◽  
Future Tense ◽  
Suicide Notes ◽  
Program Notes ◽  
Linguistic Inquiry

Abstract. A study of the content of suicide notes from attempted suicides and completed suicides was conducted using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) text analysis program. Notes from completed suicides had fewer metaphysical references, more future tense verbs, more social references (to others) and more positive emotions than did the notes from attempted suicides. The implications of these results were discussed.

scholarly journals Suicide Notes: Exaggerations by Males and Females

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Purbo Kusumastuti ◽  
Aulia Apriana ◽  
Yazid Basthomi
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Language Production ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Suicide Notes ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Female Subjects

Touching into the gender differences between males and females in expressing the use of exaggeration expressions, this study analyzes the relevant data using the LIWC tool, the HIP method, and the deficit and difference theories. This study found that in relation to the gender stereotypes, both males and females speak differently, yet also demonstrate similarities. Both the male and female subjects express emotions equally in the language production; yet, the negative emotions are dominated by the males, and the positive emotions are dominated by the females. The difference of emotion productions influences the differences in the males’ production of exaggeration expressions, such as empty adjectives, italic expressions, and hyperbole by the female subjects.  

A Text Analysis of the Poems of Sylvia Plath

2011 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lester ◽  
Stephanie McSwain
Keyword(s):  
Computer Program ◽  
Text Analysis ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Sylvia Plath ◽  
Word Count ◽  
Linguistic Inquiry

Changes in the words used in the poems of Sylvia Plath were examined using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, a computer program for analyzing the content of texts. Major changes in the content of her poems were observed over the course of Plath's career, as well as in the final year of her life. As the time of her suicide came closer, words expressing positive emotions became more frequent, while words concerned with causation and insight became less frequent.

Suicide Notes

1993 ◽  
Vol 163 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian O'Donnell ◽  
Richard Farmer ◽  
Jose Catalan
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Detailed Case ◽  
Suicide Notes ◽  
London Underground ◽  
Railway System ◽  
Underground Railway ◽  
Insight Into

Detailed case reports of incidents of suicide and attempted suicide on the London Underground railway system between 1985 and 1989 were examined for the presence of suicide notes. The incidence of note-leaving was 15%. Notes provided little insight into the causes of suicide as subjectively perceived, or strategies for suicide prevention.

The Final Hours: A Linguistic Analysis of the Final Words of a Suicide

2010 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 791-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
Computer Program ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
Additional Increase ◽  
Suicide Notes ◽  
Journal Entries ◽  
Recorded Message

A journal, two suicide notes, and two tape recordings from a young man who took his own life were analyzed by applying a computer program to analyze texts. The analysis indicates a calming trend from the journal entries to the suicide notes to the tape recordings, with an additional increase in positive emotions expressed from the first recorded message to the second recording made just an hour or two before his death. The usefulness of this approach for understanding the psychodynamics of suicidal behavior is discussed.

Their Last Words: A Review of Suicide Notes in the Elderly

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 334-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Salib ◽  
G Ei-Nimr ◽  
M Yacoub
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Suicide Notes ◽  
Unique Nature ◽  
Suicide Note ◽  
Elderly Suicide ◽  
Insight Into

Suicide notes are considered as markers of the severity of a suicide attempt and are said to provide valuable insight into the thinking of suicide victims before the fatal act. However, very few studies have described elderly suicide note-writers and their final thoughts. In this retrospective review of suicide notes obtained from coroners' records in North Cheshire over a period of 13 years from 1989–2001 we examined the content of suicide notes and their clinical significance. Suicide note-writers may not be typical of the average suicide and information elicited from the study of suicide notes may only apply to note-writers and not to suicide in general. However, the absence of a suicide note must not be considered an indicator of a less serious attempt. Future studies of suicide notes need to provide insight into the unique nature of these documents and to allow better understanding of the suicidal mind.

scholarly journals Usage of humor to Overshadow Islamophobia in the World

2018 ◽  
Vol 02 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzana Kausar ◽  
Dr. Wajid Zulqarnain
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Word Count ◽  
Muslim Identity ◽  
American Muslim ◽  
The World ◽  
Linguistic Inquiry ◽  
The Impact

After the 9/11 incident in the United States, a hatred gap arose between the Americans and Americans Muslims. Many Muslim stand-up comedians started their efforts to decrease this tension through humorous performances and comic screenplays. Also, Muslim comedians are neutralizing negative social discrimination between Muslims and another world to reduce the impact of Islamophobia in the world. The purpose of the study is to examine the part of Muslim comedians and the sentiments of the listeners about their stand-up humor videos. This study is the qualitative content analysis of comments on videos of two American Muslim comedians Negin Farsad and Obeidallah Dean. For data analysis, Linguistic Inquiry & Word Count (LIWC) used to analyses the positive emotions, negative emotions, and emotional tone. Findings exhibit that Muslim comedians are playing a critical part to assist the Muslim community handle with the effect of Islamophobia. The study also investigated that Muslim stand-up comedians are contributing to lessen the stereotyping discernments and disliked comments about Muslim identity globally. It is concluded that comedy has also helped in comforting the audiences that Arab and Muslims are not unpatriotic and adversarial to the United States or to another world.

scholarly journals Assessment of gender differences in letters of recommendation for pharmacy residency applicants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhaila L Rice ◽  
Jonathan G Leung ◽  
Kristin C Mara ◽  
Sarah B Leung
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Word Count ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Implicit Biases ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Processing Service ◽  
Letters Of Recommendation

Abstract Purpose Letters of recommendation (LORs) are highly regarded components of pharmacy residency applications, as they provide insight into an applicant’s character and capabilities. In other medical fields, differences in language have been reported for letters written for female and male applicants; however, data on gender differences in LORs for pharmacy residency applications are currently lacking. Methods LORs for applicants to our institution’s postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency program for the 2019-2020 academic year were extracted and processed by a natural language processing service. Words within 18 categories were identified and counted for each LOR. Total word count was also compared. Results Of the 473 LORs included for analysis, 320 (67.7%) were written for female applicants and 153 (32.3%) were written for male applicants. Approximately two-thirds of all writers were women for both female and male applicants. In comparing letters for women and men, there was a statistically significant difference in the percentage of LORs that contained terms in categories described as gendered, solitary/reserved, and desire. There was no statistically significant difference in total word count or in the presence of words in other categories such as grindstone, standout, agentic, or communal. When controlling for grade point average, writer gender, duration that the writer knew the applicant, and the writer’s professional position, there were no changes to the statistical findings. Conclusion Letters written for female and male applicants were largely similar with regard to length and word categories utilized. While no clear gender bias was found when evaluating pharmacy residency LORs, writers must continue to assess their implicit biases and how those biases might affect a candidate’s application.

scholarly journals Children’s cognitive responses to constructive television news

Journalism ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 568-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariska Kleemans ◽  
Roos Dohmen ◽  
Luise F Schlindwein ◽  
Sanne L Tamboer ◽  
Rebecca NH de Leeuw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Television News ◽  
General Information ◽  
Cognitive Responses ◽  
News Reporting ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Constructive Condition ◽  
Negative News ◽  
News Event ◽  
Insight Into

Given the importance of news in preparing children for their role as active citizens in society, insight into how negative news can be delivered to children most optimally is warranted. In this regard, this study examined the usefulness of constructive news reporting (i.e. solution-based news stories including positive emotions). An experiment ( N = 281 children, 9–13 years old) was conducted to investigate how constructive, compared to nonconstructive, news reporting affected recall of television news, and whether negative emotions elicited by this news mediated this relation. Analyses of covariance revealed that children in the constructive condition displayed a lower recall of the general information about the event. In contrast, their recall of constructive stories was better compared to the recall of comparable, but nonconstructive, stories by children in the nonconstructive condition. Fear and sadness elicited by the news did not mediate the relation between news reporting style and recall. Instead, constructive reporting directly induced smaller increases in fear and sadness than nonconstructive reporting. To conclude, the negative aspects of the news event were less prominently available in memory of children exposed to constructive news.

scholarly journals Practicing sports in lucid dreams – characteristics, effects, and practical implications

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Schädlich ◽  
Daniel Erlacher
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Mental Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Qualitative Level ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Dream State ◽  
Insight Into

In a lucid dream the dreamer is aware of the dream state and can carry out actions deliberately. Lucid dream practice (LDP) is the rehearsal of movements during lucid dreams and constitutes a specific form of mental practice. Previous studies demonstrated that LDP can enhance physical performance. To gain deeper insight into LDP on a qualitative level, sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with lucid dreamers from different countries. Inductive content analysis revealed that many different sports and movements can be practiced in lucid dreams. LDP experiences were very realistic, including kinesthetic perception. Required equipment or sparring partners usually were available or could be created and adjusted by the athletes. Thirteen interviewees (81.3%) reported positive effects of LDP. In particular, 10 participants reported to have improved their physical performance through LDP, confirming findings of previous studies. Other positive effects were, for example, strengthened confidence, insights for physical practice (PP), improved flexibility, and positive emotions. The results also demonstrate the special possibilities of LDP like deliberate manipulation of practice conditions, speed, and perspective. Furthermore, problems occurring during LDP are described and how they can be dealt with. Based on the results, practical advice for interested athletes is provided. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the great potential of LDP for sports practice. LDP could also be applied in other areas that involve motor learning, like rehabilitation, music, or surgery. The present study complements previous LDP findings and provides input and new ideas for future LDP studies. Furthermore, it is an important contribution to general MP research. Findings from LDP research–a small but growing field–should be incorporated into conceptual discussions on MP. Also, by extending LDP research, athletes and coaches could become more aware of this unique and effective method and could start to integrate it into sports practice.

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