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Korean Journal of Psychology: General

  • KOREAN
  • P-ISSN1229-067X
  • E-ISSN2734-1127
  • KCI

An Explanation of South Korea's Suicide Rates: Focusing on Thwarted Belongingness and Gene-Culture Coevolution

Korean Journal of Psychology: General / Korean Journal of Psychology: General, (P)1229-067X; (E)2734-1127
2019, v.38 no.1, pp.103-126
https://doi.org/10.22257/kjp.2019.3.38.1.103


Abstract

Thomas Joiner's interpersonal psychological theory of suicidal behavior has garnered a sizable academic attention among researchers due to its predictive validity, theoretical solidity, and parsimony. In particular, a great portion of scholars' attention has been paid to the theory's main concept-thwarted belongingness. Nevertheless, the theoretical implications the concept has with regard to evolutionary biology, brain development, and its relationship with suicidal behavior have not been fully understood by many scholars. Thus, we discussed the substantial impact 'the need to belong' has on the normal development of a human being in the context of evolution and brain development. Furthermore, we offered an analysis of the Korean suicide trends from a different tack based on population genetics and gene-culture coevolution theory. The conceptual framework we have offered here is quite different and unique from other scholars' frameworks mostly focused on economy-based variables, and we argue that ours is more consilient and persuasive than those previous attempts. Finally, we presented practical and policy-related implications with a view to bringing down the high suicide rates of South Korea.

keywords
Suicide, Suicide rates, thwarted belongingness, gene-culture coevotuion

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Korean Journal of Psychology: General