Abstract

GALARZA, Aixa L.. Contributions of positive psychology to the understanding and approach of and suicidal behaviors. Rev. psicodebate: psicol. cult. soc. [online]. 2016, vol.16, n.1, pp.9-26. ISSN 24516600.  http://dx.doi.org/10.18682/pd.v16i1.564.

Traditionally, the psychological study and approach of suicidal behaviors aimed to the identification of the associated risk factors. However, progressively in recent decades and in line with developments called salutogenic, research on the subject has begun to turn to the identification and understanding of protective and resilient factors, referring as those that act as buffers against suicidality. By salutogenic approach it is understood the body of theoretical developments oriented to study personal strengths and resources that promote health potential on people and allow to detect individual differences in coping with adversity. Within this approach, it is particularly interesting the positive psychology, so it has been the movement that consolidate these developments, which initiate at mid twentieth century. In this context, the work presented aimed to review the contributions of positive psychology to the conceptualization, assessment and treatment of suicidal behaviors. Basically, they are presented three contributions: optimism and suicidality, theory of positive emotions, and the perspective of the theory of self-determination in relation to the interpersonal theory of suicide. The implications are discussed.

Keywords : suicidal behaviors; salutogenic approach; positive psychology; optimism; positive emotions; self-determination theory.

        · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )