Abstract

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THE INFLUENCE OF ETHICAL IDEOLOGIES ON ATTITUDES TOWARD SUICIDE

Loh Sook Yee


Attitudes toward suicide may influence the treatment content and outcomes. Hence, this study aimed to investigate how public attitudes toward suicide were influenced by (1) their degree of idealism; and (2) their degree of relativism. A questionnaire survey with Suicide Perception Scale and Ethic Position Questionnaire was carried out on 50 male and 50 female participants (aged 21 and above) from Klang Valley, Malaysia to obtain answer. The findings supported both hypotheses, indicated that (1) higher idealism is associated with lower level of acceptance toward suicide; and (2) higher relativism is associated with higher level of acceptance toward suicide. In sum, variations in public’s attitude toward suicide were related to individual differences in personal ethical ideologies and moral philosophies.