Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1991, 72, 814.

O Perceptual

and Motor Skills 1991

NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE CONSTANT DEATH INSTINCT HYPOTHESIS ' THOMAS J. YOUNG Washburn University

Summary.-To test TabachNck and Klugman's hypothesis that the amount of death instinct per capita in different regions is constant, 1975-1977 death rates for motor vehicle accidents, cirrhosis, and suicide were obtained from the US Indian Health Service for all 11 health service areas. In contrast to predictions derived from the hypothesis that the death instinct is constant, no negative correlations were found among these three variables. Although an analysis of other behaviors might yield different findings, these results do not support an hypothesis of a constant death instinct among Indian Health Service regions. In a recent article, Lester (1) tested the hypothesis that the amount of death instinct per capita in different regions should be constant ( 2 ) . The 1973 death rates for motor vehicle accidents, cirrhosis, and suicide were obtained for each continental state. Lester noted that "Tabachnick and Klugrnan's analysis would predict negative correlations for these three measures" (1, p. 810). The results of Lester's study did not support Tabachnick and Klugman's hypothesis. The only negative correlation was for death rates from motor vehicle accidents and cirrhosis. The correlation for death rates from motor vehicle accidents and suicide were positive as was the correlation for death rates from cirrhosis and suicide. Lester concluded by noting that "a study of additional behaviors which might be manifestations of the death instinct might provide different results" (p. 810). One might also find different results among special populations. To test this issue, 1975-1977 death rates for motor vehicle accidents, cirrhosis, and suicide were obtained from the US Indian Health Service (3) for a l l 11 health service areas: Tucson, Aberdeen, Bemidji, Albuquerque, Alaska, Billings, Oklahoma City, USET, Phoenix, Portland, and Navajo. The mean rates per 100,000 population and their standard deviations were as follows: motor vehicle accidents 97.8 (SD = 32.4), cirrhosis 50.7 (SD = 23.7), suicide 27.1 (SD = 7.8). Death rates for motor vehicle accidents correlated .54 ( p < . 0 5 ) with death rates from cirrhosis but were not significantly correlated with death rates from suicide ( r = .01). The correlation of cirrhosis with suicide was also nonsignificant (r = .13). These results do not appear to support TabachNck and Klugman1s hypothesis. As Lester noted, however, an analysis of other behaviors might yield different findings.

REFERENCES 1. LESTER, D. (1989) Is the amount of death instinct constant from region to region? Perceptual and i\lofor SkilIs, 69, 810. 2 . TABACHNICK, N. D., & KLUGMAN, D. J. (1967) Suicide research and the death instinct. Yale Scienti/ic Magazine, 6 , 12- 15. 3. US INDIAN HENTH SERVICE.(1978) Selected vital sfatisticsfor Indian Health Service areas and service units. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. Accepted April 1 7 , 1791.

'Criminal Justice Department, Washburn University, Topeka, KS 66621.

Native Americans and the constant death instinct hypothesis.

To test Tabachnick and Klugman's hypothesis that the amount of death instinct per capita in different regions is constant, 1975-1977 death rates for m...
43KB Sizes 0 Downloads 0 Views