Role interference: an analysis of suicide victims, homicide offenders, and non-violent individuals.

The relationship between role interference and suicidal, homicidal and non-violent behavior is investigated. Interference obtains to the extent that enactment of certain roles tends to impede the enactment of others. High degrees of interference in the performance of roles is generally frustrating to individuals and is a potential generator of outwardly directed violence. Low degrees of role interference is likewise disconcerting to persons but in the absence of an external target for aggression may lead to self deprecation and ultimately suicide. Detailed life histories of 98 suicide victims, 62 homicide offenders, and 76 non-violent individuals having no history of homicidal or suicidal behavior were studied. Homicide offenders suffered a higher incidence of role interference than the suicide or non-violent samples. Suicide victims tended to experience low degrees of such interference.