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Análise Psicológica

Print version ISSN 0870-8231

Aná. Psicológica vol.18 no.1 Lisboa  2000

 

Efeito de Werther

Ana Filipa Almeida(*)

 

RESUMO

O formato do presente trabalho de investigação decorre da constatação comum na literatura sobre o efeito de Werther de que, apesar do progresso metodológico ter melhorado o nosso conhecimento sobre os efeitos de imitação, permanecem contraditórias e obscuras as motivações e os esquemas mentais subjacentes.

Propusemo-nos, assim, elaborar uma metodologia de investigação que, não se restringindo a uma perspectiva quantitativa, permitisse também a possibilidade de uma apresentação sob uma faceta qualitativa do fenómeno efeito de Werther.

Paralelamente ao problema e hipótese colocados em particular, o intuito comum passou pelo levantamento exploratório das características associadas ao acontecimento do efeito de Werther. Neste contexto, foi possível abordar que a proximidade a um amigo que tenha tentado o suicídio pode eventualmente constituir um prognóstico de peso para a consequente ideação suicida.

Particularmente, a nossa abordagem procura cumprir o objectivo de que a proximidade a um amigo que tenha tentado o suicídio pode encorajar a imitação em adolescentes.

Assim tendo consciência da magnitude do problema do comportamento suicida imitativo nos adolescentes será possível elaborar e implementar estratégias de intervenção específicas nos indivíduos em risco com o objectivo final de prevenir grupos suicidas originados pela imitação.

Palavras-chave: Efeito de Werther, adolescentes, ideação suicida.

 

ABSTRACT

The format of the present study lies in the common assumption of the Werther effect in the literature, that is, despite the fact that the improvement of the methodological progress has improved our knowledge on the effects of imitation, the mental schemes and motivations underlying this process remain contradicting and obscure.

Thus, we intend to develop an investigation methodology which doesn´t focus only on the quantitative perspective, but that will also allow the possibility of a presentation that lies in the qualitative aspect of the Werther effect phenomenon.

The problem and the hypothesis which were particularly placed in parallel were elaborated through the investigation of the characteristics associated with the Werther effect.

In this context, it was possible to make an approach in the sense that the proximity of a friend who commited suicide can eventually account for a most likely prognosis of the consequent suicidal ideation.

Our approach particularly seeks to achieve the purpose that the proximity to a friend who tried to commit suicide may encourage the imitation in adolescents.

Thus, by being aware of the magnitude of the imitation suicidal behaviour in adolescents one will be able to elaborate and implement strategies in individuals at risk, with the final aim of preventing suicidal groups generated by imitation.

Key words: Werther effect, adolescents, suicidal ideation.

 

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Full text only available in PDF format.

 

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(*) Serviço de Psicologia do Hospital Miguel Bombarda, Rua Dr. Almeida Amaral, 1169-053 Lisboa.

 

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