A Social Exclusion Manipulation Interacts with Acquired Capability for Suicide to Predict Self-Aggressive Behaviors

Abstract

The interpersonal theory of suicide posits that individuals who simultaneously experience high levels of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability for suicide are at high risk for a lethal or near-lethal suicide attempt. Although supported by self-report studies, no study has examined facets of the theory experimentally. The present study aimed to examine the belongingness and capability components of the theory by testing whether experimentally manipulated social exclusion interacts with self-reported acquired capability to predict higher self-administered shock levels on a self-aggression paradigm. A sample of 253 students completed self-report measures and were then randomly assigned to a social exclusion manipulation condition (future alone, future belonging, no feedback). Participants then participated in the self-aggression paradigm. The positive association between acquired capability and self-aggression was strongest among participants in the future alone social exclusion condition. In those assigned to the future belonging or no feedback conditions, the association between acquired capability and self-aggression was non-significant. These findings provide modest experimental support for the interpersonal theory of suicide and highlight a potential mechanism through which social exclusion may impact suicide risk. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Keywords:

• acquired capability
• interpersonal theory of suicide
• social exclusion
• suicide
• thwarted belongingness

Notes

¹Given documented differences in pain perceptions between left- and right-handed individuals, hypotheses were examined controlling for handedness.

²Notably, the interaction between social exclusion and acquired capability remained significant after removing neuroticism as a covariate. It dropped from significance when age (p = .052) and gender (p = .134) were included as covariates; however, we opted only to include handedness and neuroticism as covariates due to the preliminary nature of this experimental test and already-established relationships between gender and acquired capability.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer L. Hames

Jennifer L. Hames, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, USA.

Megan L. Rogers

Megan L. Rogers, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.

Caroline Silva

Caroline Silva, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.

Jessica D. Ribeiro

Jessica D. Ribeiro, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.

Nadia E. Teale

Nadia E. Teale, United States Air Force, USA.

Thomas E. Joiner

Thomas E. Joiner, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.