Thomas Joiner is an American academic psychologist and leading expert on
suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...
. He is the Robert O. Lawton Professor of Psychology at
Florida State University
Florida State University (FSU) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the st ...
, where he operates his Laboratory for the Study of the Psychology and Neurobiology of Mood Disorders, Suicide, and Related Conditions. He is author of ''Why People Die by Suicide'' (Harvard University Press 2005) and ''Myths about Suicide'' (Harvard University Press 2010), and the current
editor-in-chief
An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies.
The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...
of ''
Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior''.
In ''Why People Die by Suicide'', Joiner posits the
interpersonal theory of suicide, a three-part explanation of suicide which focuses on ability and desire. The desire to die by suicide comes from a sense of disconnection from others and lack of belonging, combined with a belief that one is a burden on others. The ability to die by suicide comes from a gradual desensitization to violence and a decreased fear of pain, combined with technical competence in one or more suicide methods. Under this model, a combination of desire and ability will precede most serious suicide attempts.
Joiner holds a Ph.D. from the
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,075 ...
.
References
External links
''Myths about Suicide,'' from Harvard University PressLab Webpage
Living people
University of Texas at Austin alumni
Florida State University faculty
21st-century American psychologists
1965 births
Suicidologists
Academic journal editors
20th-century American psychologists
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