THE EFFECT OF CAUSE OF DEATH ON RESPONSES TO THE BEREAVED - SUICIDE COMPARED TO ACCIDENT AND NATURAL CAUSES

This study investigated the impact of cause of death on responses to a bereaved individual. Sixty participants (30 men and 30 women) listened to an audiotape of a recently bereaved widow. There were three versions of the tape, each identical except for the stated cause of death: suicide, accident, or heart attack. Participants listened and responded to three segments of the tape. Results indicated that respondents were more anxious after the interaction than before. In addition, perceptions of the individual bereaved by suicide were more negative, but these perceptual differences were not reflected in quantitative measures of behavior. Qualitative data suggested that for suicidal deaths issues of blame and responsibility are more salient than for deaths due to accidents or natural causes.