Interpersonal Attitudes of Suicidal Individuals

This study compared differences in the way in which 63 suicidal and 56 nonsuicidal persons in therapy reported their relations to other people on the FIRO-B, and the Sociability and Tolerance scales from the California Personality Inventory. Suicidal and nonsuicidal groups performed significantly differently on three scales, Wanted Affection, Sociability, and Tolerance. There was a significant interaction on Wanted Affection between suicidal status and sex. Suicidal persons showed a preference for less social involvement and a lower level of tolerance for others. Suicidal males expressed more affection than suicidal females while nonsuicidal males expressed less affection than nonsuicidal females. Suicidal individuals, both males and females, and nonsuicidal females obtained much higher wanted affection scores than did nonsuicidal males. Implications of these findings regarding the nature of the personality needs of suicidal males and females were discussed.