Bayliss, Luke 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6076-801X
(2019)
Buy the ticket, take the ride: A psychobiographical exploration of the suicide of Hunter S. Thompson through the lens of the three-step theory of suicide.
Honours thesis,
University of Southern Queensland.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Suicide is a leading cause of death throughout the world. The aim of this study is to use a case-study based psychobiographical methodology to explore the psychological processes leading to the suicide of Hunter Stockton Thompson. Thompson (1937 – 2005) was an American journalist and author who fathered a new genre of journalism, Gonzo journalism. He would go on to publish numerous articles and books throughout his turbulent life. In the current study, Thompson’s suicide is interpreted through the lens of the Three-Step Theory of Suicide (3ST) (Klonsky & May, 2015). The 3ST is a contemporary theory, aiming to advance from a never-ending list of risk factors to understanding the escalation from suicide ideation to suicide attempt. This study will be the first to test the applicability of the theory to a finished life and follows du Plessis’ (2017) 12-step method to completing a psychobiography. Data was collected from Thompson’s published works and analysed as a thematic analysis using the qualitative software program NVivo (Version 12). The data was then interpreted relative to the steps of the 3ST. Results from the analysis identified recognisable themes in Thompson’s written work that aligned with the psychological processes of the 3ST. The findings of the study contribute to the literature of the 3ST, as it is the only qualitative study to test the applicability of the theory and shows that the 3ST can be identified in the casestudy of someone who died by suicide. Also, the study demonstrates the value of psychobiographical research.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Carol du Plessis |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Aug 2025 01:16 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Aug 2025 01:16 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Hunter S. Thompson, suicide, three-step theory of suicide, psychobiography, thematic analysis |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52148 |
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