Research Symposium

BIO

Morgan is a junior at Florida State University, originally from Clearwater, Florida. She is pursuing a major in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She is currently a research assistant in the ASPIRE Lab studying suicide research. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology, with the goal of building a career dedicated to clinical practice and mental health advocacy.

Acquired Capability for Suicide as a Predictor of Virtual Reality Suicidal Behavior

Abstract

Suicide is an increasingly prevalent issue in society, yet the ability to conduct suicide research is limited. Virtual reality allows us to explore factors that contribute to suicide risk, such as acquired capability, in ways that were previously not possible. This study aims to test if physical pain tolerance and fearlessness of death, the two components of acquired capability for suicide, will predict suicidal behavior. A group of 64 young adults
were assessed for these measures and then given the option to either make a virtual suicide attempt or not. I predict that higher levels of physical pain tolerance and greater fearlessness of death will correlate with higher engagement of suicidal behavior in virtual reality simulations. By determining if certain factors heighten suicide risk, this study will aid in clinical settings, such as allowing us to more easily predict if an individual is at risk for engaging in suicidal behavior.

Keywords: Suicide, virtual reality, acquired capability