Last autumn (after 9/11) I read a news article about the result of a
study that showed that for many of the people who jump from the upper
floors of a building on fire, the ground appears to be not very far
down (because of their psychological state) and therefore they think
they won't be killed by jumping. I asked a psychology PhD about this
and he confirmed it.
 
I'd like to get some confirmation of this phenomenon.

Hi there donkan.

I cannot find any sources which verify the idea of the ground seeming
close. That's not to say that there are none, but two far more popular
theories exist. The two most common reasons given for why people jump
are:

1) A wish to control their time and method of death
2) A desire to keep their bodies somewhat recognizable for relatives
to bury

#1 was proposed because some suicidal people, intent on their own
death, stop or delay their action when another person interferes with
their carefully worked out plan: control is important to them. #2 was
proposed because in the early 20th century, there were actually some
survivors from similarly awful situations, who were able to tell what
it was that went through their minds as they jumped.

I'll recommend the following article, which appeared in the Washington
Post and other newspapers soon after the events on the 11th of
September.

"A Death Better than Fate's":
http://a188.g.akamaitech.net/f/188/920/15m/www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20676-2001Sep12.html

I hope this helps. If anything's unclear, or the link will not work,
then please request clarification before rating this answer.

Thanks,

--seizer-ga

Search strategy: 

"why did they jump"
"death better than fate's" (based on recollection from reading
original article)

---

Request for Answer Clarification by donkan-ga on 08 Dec 2002 06:13 PST

seizer-ga, I'm really not after either alternative or more popular
theories. I asked for confirmation of the theory spelled out in my
question. Or by implication, for a serious article which debunks the
theory or study.

---

Clarification of Answer by seizer-ga on 08 Dec 2002 06:48 PST

I'm sorry donkan - despite further searching, I have been unable to
find a reference to the distance perception theory. While obviously
not conclusive, this does strongly persuade me that the two reasons
mentioned originally bear the most weight in as far as these theories
can.

To flesh out what the Washington Post research says. People jump
because they want to escape a predetermined end: they'd rather jump
now, than risk a rather more prolonged end later. Furthermore, they
may harbour a wish to provide their relatives with a recognizable
corpse.

You may also find the following site interesting: it deals with a 1911
factory fire, in which over a hundred people jumped to their death.
There is plenty of commentary on the reasons, but again, nothing to
support the distance perception one.

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/default.html

I did also correspond briefly with a psychologist of my acquaintance.
While not dismissing the theory, she did feel that the two reasons I
mentioned were more "likely".

I hope this helps you,

Regards,

--seizer-ga

I don't think that it is realistic to expect a total confirmation. The
only way that this theory could be confirmed 100% is actually to jump
off a building. But then it is unlikely that the jumper will be in a
fit condition to give an answer.
Besides, you appear to think that there is precisely one answer to
your question. It is quite possible that there are a number of reasons
which motivate people to jump.
How on earth did your Ph.D student acquaintance claim to have verified
this hypothesis anyway?

Hi donkan,

I researched this question quite thoroughly the first time you posted
it back in September, and I found nothing that indicates any
confirmation of the hypothesis you heard. It sure would be interesting
to find that news article you read to see 1) who made the statement
and 2) what exactly they were talking about.

Maybe you could track it down for us?

-K~