Le Suicide Étude de Sociologie

Katie Vojvodic 

Mr. Roddy

IHSS

27 September 2021

Suicide: A Study in Sociology

        Suicide: A Study in Sociology is a book written by well-known sociologist Émile Durkheim in 1897. Durkheim introduced the notion that suicide was not only caused by psychological and emotional factors, but it is also affected by social factors. His theory was that the more disconnected a person feels from social groups and the world around them, the more likely they are to commit suicide. According to Durkheim, there are 4 types of suicide: anomic, altruistic, fatalistic, and egoistic. These 4 types are defined by different social factors that might drive someone to commit suicide.

          An anomic suicide is a result of a person feeling disconnected from society and/or the circumstances of their life. These types of feelings might be caused by a major life event that leaves a person too confused to be able to connect with the world around them. For example, many people might have experienced a feeling of anomie during the recent covid-19 pandemic as it limited in-person interactions and increased social isolation for extended periods of time.

    Egoistic suicides are similar to anomic ones in that they are both results of a disconnection from society. Egoistic suicides, however, is caused when by complete detachment from or lack of connection with friends, family, jobs, and other areas of life. In contrast, fatalistic and altruistic suicides both concern a person who is under excessive by a society or social group; altruistic suicide is when one kills themself for a greater cause (one that benefits their society), while fatalistic suicide occurs when oppressive social conditions cause someone to feel and immense lack of agency over their own decisions and life.

        This article was very interesting; I think that Durkheim's research is important for not just psychologists and sociologists to know, but also for the general public. A lot of people don't realize the impact that social interaction has on people's mental health. Based on Durkheim's research, we can infer that the deaths of many people could have been prevented had their social circumstances been different. That is, it's not like every person who died from suicide was always destined to die that way--environmental factors impacted each and every one of them. Understanding Durkheim's theory might help people be more mindful of the way they treat others in their community. Furthermore, people struggling with suicidality might become more inclined to reach out for help cope with the social issues they are facing.

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