Durkheim's Sociological Study of Suicide - Essay Example

?DURKHEIM'S SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF 'SUICIDE' s In his study on suicide, Emile Durkheim defined suicide as any death coming either directly or indirectly from unconstructive act of the victim himself (Hughes, Sharrock, & Martin 2003, p.54). The victim should be conversant that the act will result to death. In his study, Durkheim analysis count on the official data collected without consideration of his definition. Durkheim classified suicide in the approach that replicated the then existing theories of human behavior. He (Emile Durkheim) distinguished between anomic suicide, altruistic suicide, egoistic suicide, and fatalistic suicide. According to Durkheim, fatalistic and altruistic suicides are less popular and important in his study. He observed egoistic suicide as a result of the weakening of familial and social attachments. Disappointment and dissatisfaction were the main cause of anomic suicide. According to Emile Durkheim study, modernization and urbanization are the core factors responsible for increased suicide among society members (Hughes, Sharrock, & Martin 2003, p.54). Modernization and civilization lead to elimination of social cohesion hence increasing the suicide rate in human sphere. To counter the problem of urbanization and modernization, Durkheim emphasized on the need for social integration as a defensive tactic against increased suicide level (Hughes, Sharrock, & Martin 2003, p.55). As per Durkheim’s observation, egoism and anomie suicide are as a results of crumple in traditional constraints (Hughes, Sharrock, & Martin 2003, p.55). In this regards, suicide cases can be used to measure the level of social pathology in a society. The self constraint is measured through the analysis of the rate of egoistic suicide in a society. On the other hand, the rate of anomie suicide is appropriate in measuring estrangement in a society. According to Durkheim, altruistic suicide revealed collectively certified self sacrifice. Although there are theoretical sense which justifies altruistic suicide, Durkheim never accounted them as suicides. In relation to fatalistic suicide, Durkheim disputed them on the ground of lack of contemporary significance. According to Hughes, Sharrock, & Martin (2003, p.55) Durkheim description and typology of suicide affirmed his claims that the collapse of traditional social arrangement was the basis of raise in suicidal cases. He related the low suicide rate among women with their greater social interaction nature. According to him (Durkheim), women interact frequently and share their frustration with other society members. Frequent sharing of ideas reduces stress in women hence limiting their chances of committing suicide. On the other hand, men are more prone to committing suicide due to their inward looking nature. They keep their disparity within themselves thus saturating their frustrations and disappointed. Saturated frustrations, dissatisfactions, and disappointments lead to depression which results to increased chances of committing suicide. In his study, Durkheim did not value women suicide by itself as a class for efficient analysis. He underreported scenarios of women completed suicide (Hughes, Sharrock, & Martin 2003, p.57). As observed by Craib (1997, p.210) Durkheim asserted that, increased suicide among society members was as a result of social disintegration. This is specifically the case among women in the society. Due to their role and responsibility in the society, women were more resistant to suicide than men. Durkheim claim on immunity was based on his supposition on the socially disintegrative consequence of civilization and urbanization. He never relied on his data in defending his position on women immunity to suicide. According to Durkheim, civilization plays a very significant role in escalating mental problem among society members. Urban dwellers are more prone to insanity as compared to the countryside residents. On the other hand, the people who reside in big urban areas and cities are more likely to suffer from mental illness than those who inhabit in smaller towns. He accounted this with the high cost of living and other social pressures in urban areas which are not apparent in rural areas (Craib 1997, p.210). In his study on suicide, Durkheim related low birth rate to increased level of suicide in the society. According to him, low birth rate weakens the family attachments. In reference to his statistics, those areas with the least population growth rate endured the highest suicidal rate. The health status of a society relies purely on the families’ destiny in a society. According to Durkheim, women are supposed to have many children to guarantee the prospect of a family and the society at large (Craib 1997, p.210). He further stated that, women are less concerned with civilization as compared to men. They are more interested and concerned with their traditional role. This makes them more health and less prone to suicide. Women participate less in civilization and development hence getting very limited negative and positive outcome. Women inclement to traditional role and their punitive culture are used by Durkheim to confirm the natural justification which makes women less prone to suicide. According to Durkheim, traditional responsibilities and culture are less stressful as compared to contemporary civilization and advancement (Craib 1997, p.210). As observed by Swingewod (2000, p.90) Durkheim assertion on the limited chances of suicide among women is argued on the statistical bases as well as the prevailing assumptions. The gathered information from Durkheim himself and his predecessors in many countries all over the world confirmed his ideas of women being less prone to suicide than men. To justify and affirm his assumptions Durkheim claim women follow their self instincts to calm and find peace within themselves. This is contrary to men who do not utilize their instincts in finding peace within themselves. Men are controlled by their self ego in their deeds. Women are more natural human being than men. Durkheim description of fatalism explains the mental and social situation of women. This definition touches on substantial number of women who are in the world today. Durkheim explained women in their traditional families as human beings who are socially integrated. (Swingewod 2000, p.90) In his study, Durkheim classified military officers as less prone to suicide. Military officer committed less suicide than civilians. He explained their good life as the main cause of reduced social stress in their life. According to Durkheim, the military life in the early 19th century was perfect. He referred to military suicide as self sacrifice. Durkheim also observed the effect of religion to suicide. Society members are affected differently by their religion inclination. There is limited number of attempted and completed suicide among catholic believers as compared to Protestants believers. According to him (Durkheim), religion does not regulate the level of suicide on its own capacity. Other factors such as urbanization and development have a role to play. In reference to his findings, protestant commit more suicide than Roman Catholic. According to Durkheim, unmarried people are more prone to suicide than married people. Unmarried people lack immediate partners to share their problems and challenges. They stay desperately with their own problem. The unshared problems increase the level of depression which results to suicide (Swingewod 2000, p.90). On the other hand, married people have a platform to share frustration and disappointment which lead to reduced suicidal cases. Good interactions among marriage couple have been reported by Durkheim as very prolific in reducing suicide crimes among family members. As observed by Durkheim, separated and divorced people have engages in suicidal crimes more than unmarried people. Durkheim statistic shows large numbers of people who commit suicide have a record of broken or dysfunctional family (Swingewod2000, p.90). Strengths As observed by Swingewod (2000, p.90) in his study, Durkheim undertook an extensive research in all facets of the society. He examined and analyzed all social grouping in the entire society. This gave him a profound incites on the rationale and rate of suicidal crimes in the society which strengthened his study. Durkheim had a very deep understanding on the structures and institutions in the society. On the other hand, Durkheim was a scholar on social science thus he had a well rounded understanding of how different society organs functions. Durkheim understanding on social issues helped him in collecting factual and relevant information in his study. Durkheim included statistic from different organs which assisted him in getting the figure of the reported suicidal cases in different countries. Durkheim also touched on different social aspect which brings pressure to commit suicide. The integration of this entire factor strengthened his argument in the study (Craib 1997, p.218). Weaknesses of Durkheim study on suicide Despite of it’s significant in the modern contemporary society, Durkheim study on suicide have very reflective shortcomings. Other suicide scholars have blamed Durkheim for his personal biases in the conceptualization of suicide. He was blamed for interpreting the collected data based on the biases of the early 20th century. He demonized the emerging development and civilization and equated it to suicide. In his study on the impact of social integration to suicide, Durkheim data reviewed the highest suicidal rate were realized to individuals who were more socially incorporated. This conflicted with his conclusion of integration as one of the aspects that reduces suicidal rates. Durkheim did not utilize exhaustive the available data. The data reviewed the high risk to suicide for those subsumed in traditional institutions in the society were more apparent than for those were less socially incorporated. The data also showed frequent incidences of completed suicide among women. In reference to the collected data, women used suicide to express their dissatisfactions. Durkheim underrated the causes of women complete suicide in defining the reasons for suicide in the society. Although Durkheim concurred with the ideas that attempted suicide is relevant in defining suicide, he failed to incorporate it in his typology because it is not the real death. The inclusion and consideration of the available facts was very relevant in enriching the study (Craib 1997, p.210). In his study on suicide, Durkheim undervalued some of prerequisite in the sociological study. His elimination of the attempted suicide in his definition of suicide was exceptionally strange. Sociological study tries to explain and analyze social behaviors in the society. Certainly, an attempt to commit suicide must be considered as suicidal behavior. He relied on complete suicide in defining the concept suicide thus locking out exceptionally numerous suicidal behaviors in his analysis. If he would have included attempted suicides in his typology, his data portrays women as more prone to suicidal behaviors than men (Durkheim 1954, p.67). Durkheim has been condemned for his position on military suicide. Official data shown that, the highest rate of suicide were among the military officers. According to his knowledge on suicide, Durkheim must have been aware that those who sacrifice themselves in the warfront are never categorized as having committed suicide in any formal report. In this case, Durkheim would have reported military suicide as an example of altruistic suicide (Durkheim 1954, p.67). Relevance of the study in the modern days The contents of the Durkheim study are very pertinent and constructive in modern guidance and counseling therapy. The understanding of the causes of suicide as expounded in the study can play a very crucial role in entire counseling process. The most apparent ways of solving a problem is by addressing it from the perspective of the problem root cause. The study provides an understanding of different factors which forces an individual to commit suicide. On the other hand, psychiatrist can borrow some competency from the study in the practicum. The social constraints which lead an individual in committing suicide are the same constraints which causes mental problem. According to Durkheim, depression which results from frustration and disappointments is core cause of suicide. In this regard, Proper treatment of emotional and mental problems is very essential in reducing suicidal cases. On social health issues, proper understanding of the important and the manner of maintaining well social cohesion is very relatable in maintaining a health society. Conclusion When utilized as intended, theoretical frameworks are very essential in improving and maintaining the society health. According to Durkheim, suicide serves as an indicator for reduced social capital. He has expressed the interrelation between social capital and the community health. In his analysis on suicide, Durkheim came up with a systematic typology of suicide in the entire society. He compared egoism suicide with altruism and fatalism was contrasted with anomie. The break down of social order (social capital) in any society is the core factor in the accelerated suicidal crimes. He focused purely on egoistic and anomie suicide because they offered arithmetic variable measures of the deterioration of social capital. In his study, people on developed and civilized communities were more prone to suicide that individuals from less developed societies. According to Durkheim, there are many incidences of men committing suicide as compared to women. Durkheim compared this to the social integration nature of women. According to him, men are more integrated to modern development and civilization hence increasing stress and confusion in their life. In his study, Durkheim undertook concrete study from various parts of the world. He studied different societies among different society in the world. He also worked in conjunction with other relevant stakeholders in his effort to get the best outcome. He also incorporated the collected data with the then available literature review. This increased the credibility of his study. His work is very relevant and applicable in the modern dynamic world. It can be used in the health sector, counseling and in military forces. It is also appropriate in solving the problem that affects the modern social capitalist. Despite of his good work, his study was faced with several shortcomings and challenges. He is blamed for his biased nature in his theory. He also used his dissatisfactions in the modern development in analyzing his data. On the other hand, Durkheim underutilized the data he had collected. Instead, he used his own understanding and labeling in analyzing the data. Bibliography Craib, L, (1997), Classical social theory, OUP, London, 210-250 Durkheim, E, (1954), Suicide: A study in sociology, Rout ledge, New York, 67-98 Hughes, J., Sharrock, W., and Martin, P, (2003), Understanding classical sociology, Sage, London, 54-61 Swingewod, A (2000), A short history of sociological thought, 3rd ED, Palgrave, London.90-120 Read More