mueller Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is the main argument of Mueller, Abrutyn & Osborne (2017)?
They use The Walking Dead to revisit Durkheim’s theory of suicide, arguing that loss of identity and group attachment—especially during societal collapse—is key to understanding suicide risk, not just low social integration.
Why is this article important?
It modernises Durkheim’s theory by applying it to pop culture, showing how identity, group belonging, and societal disruption interact to affect mental health and suicide risk—even in fictional or crisis contexts.
How is Rick Grimes an example of protected mental health?
Despite societal collapse, Rick maintains micro-level integration through his leadership role and group attachment, preserving his identity and sense of purpose—shielding him from suicidal despair.
How does Dr. Edwin Jenner represent suicide risk?
Jenner loses both macro and micro integration (CDC collapse, wife’s death), leading to complete identity breakdown. His suicide reflects egoistic-anomic factors: isolation, lack of purpose, and social disintegration.
What do the authors say about Durkheim’s typologies?
They critique them as too rigid, arguing that egoistic, anomic, and altruistic categories may oversimplify suicide causes. Instead, they focus on the mechanisms—like identity loss and group detachment.
What is Proposition 1a?
Identity verification and group attachment are what make social integration protective for mental health. It’s not just about being “connected,” but about being seen and valued in a group.
What is Proposition 2?
Losing identity-anchoring relationships increases suicide vulnerability—especially in situations of rapid social collapse or trauma, where roles and support systems vanish.
How does this update Durkheim?
It shifts the focus from static categories to dynamic social mechanisms, making Durkheim’s theory more relevant to contemporary crises, trauma, and dislocation.
What’s the broader takeaway?
Suicide risk isn’t just about being isolated—it’s about losing meaning, purpose, and place in a social world. Identity and group belonging are vital buffers against despair.
How could this apply to real-life events?
It offers insights into mental health in disasters, refugee experiences, or pandemics, where traditional structures collapse and identity-threatening disconnection increases.
