Critiques of Heavy Metal and Suicide
Over the last couple of decades there have been many studies attempting to discover if there is a correlation between heavy metal music and suicide. The evidence as of 1998 shows that there is "a tie between metal and suicidality" (Stack). This fact makes it tough to make an educated decision. However, there is a general trend in the academic journals where people study the metal subculture rather than the genre itself. This is a the fatal flaw of a majority of the academic articles which claim heavy metal music causes people to kill themselves. The main articles examined in this website that make this mistake include "Heavy Metal, Religiosity, and Suicide Acceptability" by Steven Stack, "The Heavy Metal Subculture and Suicide" by Steven Stack, Jim Gundlach, and Jimmie L. Reeves, and "Heavy Metal Music and Adolescent Suicidality: An Empirical Investigation" by Karen R. Scheel and John S. Westefeld.
Stack's Articles
"Heavy metal, Religiosity, and Suicide Acceptability"
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"the Heavy Metal Subculture and Suicide"
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Does heavy metal music cause people to resort to suicide? Watch the video and try to find any suicidal signs such as depresion, and hoplessness. The lyrics to "Suicide" obviously talk about suicide yet the fans do not appear to ready to kill themselves. They are headbanging and enjoying the concert.
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Heavy Metal Music and Adolescent Suicidality: An Emperical Investigation
By: Karen R. Scheel and John S. Westefeld
Like Stack's articles, Scheel and Westefeld focus on the metal subculture. They find that suicide tendencies within the metal genre are a result of the metal fan base having higher rates of substance abuse, recklessness, delinquency, lower self-esteem, depression, and strained family and school relationships. This accounts for why 66% of heavy metal fans compared to 35% of pop fans
have considered killing themselves (Scheel and Westefeld 255). However, the conclusion that the music causes one to commit suicide is false since it is based on the 1% of heavy metal fans that feel sad or depressed while listening to heavy metal music (Scheel and Westefeld 263). Scheel and Westefeld's argument may be correct for some people but certainly not for the majority of the metal subculture.
have considered killing themselves (Scheel and Westefeld 255). However, the conclusion that the music causes one to commit suicide is false since it is based on the 1% of heavy metal fans that feel sad or depressed while listening to heavy metal music (Scheel and Westefeld 263). Scheel and Westefeld's argument may be correct for some people but certainly not for the majority of the metal subculture.