Cultural Patterns in Trukese Suicide

Hezel, Francis X. (July 1984). "Cultural Patterns in Trukese Suicide". Ethnology. 23 (3): 193. doi:10.2307/3773746. ISSN 0014-1828.

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Abstract: examines the distinctive patterns of suicide within the Trukese (now "Chuukese") community in Micronesia. The study highlights that suicide among the Trukese is strongly influenced by cultural factors and often occurs in response to specific conflict situations. A significant finding in the research is that most Trukese suicides appear to stem from perceived threats to relationships, reflecting the centrality of family and relational ties in Trukese society[.

The paper discusses the epidemiological survey conducted between 1979 and 1981 under the auspices of the University of Hawaii, which contributed greatly to understanding these patterns[4]. The research indicates that there is a dominant pattern, identified in 74 out of 96 cases with sufficient detail, which serves as the basis for the discussion on Trukese suicide. Furthermore, the emotional expression of anger is identified as one of the significant cultural patterns, encapsulating the “Angry Suicides” theme.

The article also considers the impact of modernization and social change, suggesting that these may contribute to the rising suicide rates by eroding traditional cultural values and creating tensions, particularly among the youth. While these hypotheses are compelling, the authors call for further research to validate the proposed interpretations and uncover the full extent of social factors’ influence on suicide rates in Truk (Chuuk).

Extra details:

QID: Q74653306
PMID: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11613718
MAG: 239885592
OpenAlex: W239885592
CorpusID: 6371369