Males & Suicide

[Storm]

I didn't say that either.

I said expressing vulnerability is opposed to appearing self-confident.

 

[Comicaze247]

So why aren't we asking what's wrong with a culture that drives boys, much more than girls, to take their own lives?

Men, for the most part, naturally have weaker egos than women do. I'm not sure why this is the case, but it's true in general. So we men, though we may hide it, are much more sensitive to disappointments, stress, pain, and attacks against our person. Our egos bruise like bananas So then starts the downward spiral of thinking. "I'm stressed, I can't do anything right, I'm worthless, nobody cares about me, might as well end it."

Are males really hard-wired to be more aggressive, or is it cultural?

I do believe biology plays a part, as I sometimes get aggressive. But it can also be changed socially, as I'm usually a very laid back and passive. It just differs from person to person.

However, studies show (according to my Psych class last semester) that the group of people with the highest rates of suicide are single white, middle-class men. I can't quite recall the reasons, I'll have to look through my notes again.

How do you personally deal with shame, and do you think it's a healthy method?

It depends on the day, but some days, I kind of beat myself up and mope around, which isn't really healthy. I usually rationalize it saying "I won't learn my lesson if I don't" which is probably true, as I acknowledge that I greatly lack discipline

Most other days, I apologize and do something to make up for the mistake. Once I have forgiveness, then I'm fine.

 

[Yerda]

Are males really hard-wired to be more aggressive, or is it cultural?

It appears to be common to all cultures. But then so is Coca-Cola...

Honestly, I think aggressiveness has it's roots in biology, but there are ways mediating the problem. Boys in some cultures kill each other freely, while some are more prone to non-fatal or even non-serious conflict. I think they're physiologically similar but the environment they live in may provide means other than violence to resolve conflicts. Like police, or authority.

Young males are the typical participants in the drug related assaults and murders. It seems unlikely to me that they are biologically more prone, on average, to behave aggressively than the rest of us. They can't, however, pick up the phone and request the police prevent the seizure of their crack basement by a rival group.

I'm not sure that relates to suicide.

How do you personally deal with shame, and do you think it's a healthy method?

Badly.

 

[methylatedghosts]

It would be helpful not to complicate the issue of suicide in order to write a bestseller

Suicide itself is not so complicated. The reasons for it though, are widely varied, and highly complex. So... I'm not sure how you can complicate it further.

I believe the problem probably lies with boys not having adequate teachers to role model healthy expression of.. well.. anything really. Not to mention, that those who are able to express themselves are labelled "sissies" or "girls". I personally am not embarrassed to have a good cry (just ask the people on the flight back from Melbourne ), and hey, even that gets a couple of laughs from "the guys" (the girls all go "awww, that's so sad" though - I think that's more important, no? ).

And not that I'm blaming them, but fathers and other important male role models generally aren't even sure how to express themselves, my guess, being a result of the role models of the role models of the role models before them . So it's difficult to expect a person in a position where they do role model behaviours, to teach boys how express themselves, if they aren't really sure about the whole thing themselves. Currently for males, I think it needs to be taught, and I think that this would go a long way in reducing those figures (not that it would eliminate them entirely)

Ugh... I feel like I'm babbling. Might add/clarify later

 

[verecund]

It's my understanding that teen girls attempt suicide at much higher rates then teen boys. The boys succeed at much higher rates.

In order for Ryan to be correct, females must be deliberately choosing less effective methods. Is there any evidence that the majority of girls/women are trying to fail?

I think what should be important is the attempts-- not who succeeds more. I'd be interested in seeing the statistic for overall suicide attempts...

Teenagers are very... dramatic. Even teens with severe issues, maybe problems bad enough that you could understand them being suicidal, use suicide "attempts" as a cry for help instead of an actual suicide attempt. I've known... too many kids who used self injury and suicide "attempts" that were really looking for attention than anything else. Boys and girls do this, but it seems like girls are more likely to do it. Maybe that goes back to having people to support them... perhaps a girl would be cooed over and hugged, and a boy would be looked at as if he was weak.

On second thought, that just makes it worse.

 

[DarkSun]

Are males really hard-wired to be more aggressive, or is it cultural?

I'd say it's more cultural than innate. But of course, it does depend on the individual.

How do you personally deal with shame, and do you think it's a healthy method?

*Coughs.*

Hi, my name's DarkSun.

(Hello DarkSun....)

:help:

Well, anyway, I'm male. The way I coped was by withdrawing into myself. I tended to segregate myself from others. And there was a point in my life where I thought about suicide, but I never enacted it. Which I'm really happy about now. But just generally I become introverted, cold and reclusive.

So yeah, I think it's more healthy than self inflicted injuries, hanging yourself or shooting yourself.

*Applause.*

 

[DarkSun]

*Eats a cookie.*

 

[Ozzie]

Suicide itself is not so complicated. The reasons for it though, are widely varied, and highly complex. So... I'm not sure how you can complicate it further.

I believe the problem probably lies with boys not having adequate teachers to role model healthy expression of.. well.. anything really. Not to mention, that those who are able to express themselves are labelled "sissies" or "girls". I personally am not embarrassed to have a good cry (just ask the people on the flight back from Melbourne ), and hey, even that gets a couple of laughs from "the guys" (the girls all go "awww, that's so sad" though - I think that's more important, no? ).

And not that I'm blaming them, but fathers and other important male role models generally aren't even sure how to express themselves, my guess, being a result of the role models of the role models of the role models before them . So it's difficult to expect a person in a position where they do role model behaviours, to teach boys how express themselves, if they aren't really sure about the whole thing themselves. Currently for males, I think it needs to be taught, and I think that this would go a long way in reducing those figures (not that it would eliminate them entirely)

Ugh... I feel like I'm babbling. Might add/clarify later

Are women less likely to suicide than males in dysfunctional situations where kids are involved being more attached to the kids in a nurturing capacity, and not being concerned with the means of purchasing that nurturing, and an incapacity to do so?

Sometimes women are only required to love their children and that is enough. Men are usually required to love their wife/partner and their children by demonstrating a capacity to do so.