Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Ava Gonzalez and I am a second year student at Florida State University majoring in psychology. I am interested in conducting research on detection and prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. I plan on attending medical school and pursuing a career in psychiatry.

Self-Dehumanization and Entrapment as Predictors of Suicidal Ideation

Abstract

According to the Three-Step Theory (3ST) of Suicide (Klonsky & May, 2015), the development of suicidal ideation is caused by a combination of pain and hopelessness. Subsequently, suicidal ideation can be mitigated by one’s level of connectedness, defined as a sense of purpose, when connectedness exceeds feelings of pain and hopelessness. The aim of this study is to expand upon existing research related to the 3ST and determine whether hopelessness, measured by entrapment, or impaired connectedness, measured by self-dehumanization, is a better predictor of suicidal ideation. A self-report questionnaire will be used to assess levels of entrapment, self-dehumanization, and suicidal ideation in undergraduate students at Florida State University. Data collection is ongoing; however, preliminary data suggests that together, entrapment and self-dehumanization predict a significant amount of variance in suicidal ideation. However, when accounting for entrapment, self-dehumanization is a non-significant predictor of suicidal ideation.
 

Keywords: suicidal ideation, entrapment, self-dehumanization