Durkheim's Theory of Suicide
Durkheim's Theory of Suicide
The main purpose of this document is to give an explanation to Durkheim’s theory in the light of his sociological analysis of suicide. I will stress the importance of suicide that Durkheim considered and how he was competent enough to present reasons to the social causes, as well as examining the variations in suicide rates by means of his hypothesis of social integration and regulatory functions of society. In doing so, this will determine the outcome if there are any complications to his theory.
Emile Durkheim wrote a book called "Le Suicide" one of which his work was revolutionised in the field of sociology. It was first published at the end of the 19th century with the intention of demonstrating the use of sociological methods in a concrete social problem. His aim was to fragment the common grounds of suicide, promote them with analysis, and introduce them globally via this book. However, due to the nature of his theory, a majority of his findings on the subject of suicide are still relevant in today’s modern society.
Durkheim argued that suicide cannot exclusively be grounded from individual responses or preferences, as considered beforehand by well-known researchers in his era, but rather, a social phenomenon that is accompanied by social constitutions. He gives description of suicide as "all cases of death resulting directly or indirectly from a positive or negative act of the victim himself, which he knows will produce this result” (Durkheim & Simpson, 2002, p. 110). He represent this as an example of a problematic social fact for the reason it was impelled by social factors, regardless of how hidden they were. Durkheim (2002) further states “if suicide depends on more than one cause it is because in reality there are several kinds of suicide” (p. 9).
Durkheim thought that by analysing the distinctive forms of suicide, he could determine key aspects of social structure. In an attempt to analyse and test his theory, he
The main purpose of this document is to give an explanation to Durkheim’s theory in the light of his sociological analysis of suicide. I will stress the importance of suicide that Durkheim considered and how he was competent enough to present reasons to the social causes, as well as examining the variations in suicide rates by means of his hypothesis of social integration and regulatory functions of society. In doing so, this will determine the outcome if there are any complications to his theory.
Emile Durkheim wrote a book called "Le Suicide" one of which his work was revolutionised in the field of sociology. It was first published at the end of the 19th century with the intention of demonstrating the use of sociological methods in a concrete social problem. His aim was to fragment the common grounds of suicide, promote them with analysis, and introduce them globally via this book. However, due to the nature of his theory, a majority of his findings on the subject of suicide are still relevant in today’s modern society.
Durkheim argued that suicide cannot exclusively be grounded from individual responses or preferences, as considered beforehand by well-known researchers in his era, but rather, a social phenomenon that is accompanied by social constitutions. He gives description of suicide as "all cases of death resulting directly or indirectly from a positive or negative act of the victim himself, which he knows will produce this result” (Durkheim & Simpson, 2002, p. 110). He represent this as an example of a problematic social fact for the reason it was impelled by social factors, regardless of how hidden they were. Durkheim (2002) further states “if suicide depends on more than one cause it is because in reality there are several kinds of suicide” (p. 9).
Durkheim thought that by analysing the distinctive forms of suicide, he could determine key aspects of social structure. In an attempt to analyse and test his theory, he
References: Durkheim, E., & Simpson, G, (2002). Suicide: A Study in Sociology. London, England: Routledge. Retrieved from: http://www.acap.eblib.com.au.elibrary.acap.edu.au/ Emile Durkheim: Suicide Henry, K. (2007, March 29). Emile Durkheim 's Analysis of the Problem of Anomie and Its Connections. Retrieved from: http://ezinearticles.com/ Integration Ritzer, G. (1992). Sociological Theory, (3rd ed.). New York, McGraw-Hill. Retrieved from: http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/250j2003.htm Scientific Method and Emile Durkheim 's Study of Suicide