Testing the bargaining vs. inclusive fitness models of suicidal behavior against the ethnographic record

Evolution and Human Behavior • Published In • Pages: 1-14 •
By Syme, Kristen L., Garfield, Zachary H., Hagen, Edward H.

Hypothesis

An individual with low reproductive potential and/or who perceives her or himself as a burden upon biological kin will be more likely to commit suicide.

Note

Variables combined to test deCatanzaro's inclusive fitness model. In humans, individuals with low reproductive potential impose large fitness costs on biological kin and can improve inclusive fitness by commiting suicide.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Logistic regression; non-negative matrix factorization (NMF)SupportedUNKNOWNUNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
ConflictUNKNOWNSuicide
Evidence Against BurdensomenessUNKNOWNSuicide
Evidence Against Fitness ThreatUNKNOWNSuicide
Fitness ThreatUNKNOWNSuicide
High Lethality Of AttemptUNKNOWNSuicide
High Reproductive PotentialUNKNOWNSuicide
Low Lethality Of AttemptUNKNOWNSuicide
Low Reproductive PotentialUNKNOWNSuicide
Motive: Harm OthersUNKNOWNSuicide
Motive: LeverageUNKNOWNSuicide
Motive: Make Kin "better Off"UNKNOWNSuicide
Motive: Make Others "better Off"UNKNOWNSuicide
No Social Partner FitnessUNKNOWNSuicide
Outcome: Others HarmedUNKNOWNSuicide
Outcome: Victim Worse OffUNKNOWNSuicide
PowerlessnessUNKNOWNSuicide
Private Suicidal BehaviorUNKNOWNSuicide
Public Suicidal BehaviorUNKNOWNSuicide
Social Partner FitnessUNKNOWNSuicide