Escaping the World: Linguistic Indicators of Suicide Attempts in Poets

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine features of language use in the texts of poets who committed suicide and to identify psychological factors contributing to depression and suicide. Texts of suicidal and non-suicidal poets were analyzed via the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count program. ANOVA and logistic regression analysis revealed predictors of suicide: higher percentage of words self-oriented, expressed negative emotions, ambiguity, exclusion attitude toward reality, and lower percentages of words related to others, world entitativity, and experiencing the world. The data support hypotheses that suicide is facilitated by weak social bonds, egocentrism, helplessness, and visions of an unordered, uncertain, and unsafe world.

KEYWORDS:

• suicide
• world-view
• uncertainty
• social isolation
• helplessness
• text analysis

Notes

r ² = .65 (Cox and Snell) and .87 (Nagelkerke), χ² = 1.76, p > .05.*p < .05.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Katarzyna Pająk

Katarzyna Pająk has MAs in psychology (University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw) and economy (University of Economics in Krakow). The present article is based on her master's thesis; Jerzy Trzebiński was the supervisor. Her interests include literature, LIWC, psycholinguistics, coaching, and the psychology of creativity.

Jerzy Trzebiński

Jerzy Trzebiński is a professor of psychology at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw. His current research concerns narratives and self-narratives in social interactions and basic trust (presumptions regarding the orderliness and positivity of the world). Special topics of interest include the role of narratives in dealing with loss and traumatic experiences and the impact of basic trust strengths on coping with critical life situations, making long-term decisions, and planning the future.