Critically Analyse the Durkheimian Concept of Anomie and Apply it to the Topic of Suicide - Essay Example

Critically Analyse the Durkheimian concept of anomie and apply it to the topic of Suicide The responses of people to their environment are depended on a series of factors. Commonly, the human behaviour is influenced by each individual’s social environment; however, the personal background and experiences are also likely to affect the reaction of individuals to various social and political events. In any case, certain aspects of human behaviour are quite difficult to be interpreted: suicide is an indicative example. In sociology, extensive efforts have been made in order to identify the causes of suicide within a particular social context. The Durkheimian concept of anomie can be possibly used for explaining the development of suicide within modern societies. In order to decide on how the concept of anomie could be used for explaining the various aspects of suicide, it would be necessary to refer primarily to the framework of anomie – as described by Durkheim. Then, the potential relationship between the concept of anomie and the suicide could be identified and explained. Anomie was a concept introduced by Durkheim in his study ‘Division of Labor’ in 1893 (Morrison, 2006, p.414). In the above study, the term anomie has been used in order to describe the lack of regulatory mechanisms within a society, a lack that results to the inability of controlling the activities of individuals. Anomie, as described above, is likely to be more developed in highly industrialized societies – which are more difficult to be controlled in terms of its norms and ethics. On the other hand, the relationship between anomie and the division of labor leads to a series of important assumptions: a) anomie requires the lack of regulation in the division of labor; this means that in industrialized societies where labor is fairly organized and monitored anomie is not likely to appear or – at least - to be highly developed, b) the risk of the appearance of anomie – as a result of the deregulation of the society is a fact known to governors and accepted by them. In other words, the development of anomie is related not only to the social norms but also to the political structure of a specific state. In societies with healthy political characteristics – referring to the style and the principles of their governance – anomie is not expected to appear; even if it would appear it would be related to the personal perceptions and the attitudes of individuals and not to the norms of the society, c) in highly industrialized societies, the effects of anomie on the society and the individual cannot be precisely estimated in advance. In accordance with Morrison (2006) in anomic societies, ‘economic institutions are differentiated from the goals set by the social regulation’ (Morrison, 2006, p.414) in the terms that the achievement of these goals is not feasible. Therefore, in the context of society, anomie could result to severe social and political turbulences which, if not appropriately controlled, can threaten the entire social and political framework - leading to phenomena like the armed conflicts across the state involved, d) the role of anomie developed in societies worldwide can be differentiated; in highly industrialized countries anomie would be related to the social ethics and the lack of adequate regulation on industrial relations. On the other hand, in countries with low industrialization anomie would be rather related to the personal perceptions of individuals – i.e. it would not be exclusively depended on the social norms. Durkheim used the term anomie again in ‘his study ‘Suicide’ in 1897’ (Babbie, 2010, p.136). In the context of the above study, anomie has been used in order to explain the conditions of society, which can favour the development of suicide. However, through the years the specific concept has been used in order to describe the psychological conditions of individuals that are expected to commit suicide. An important advantage of the concept of anomie is that it can be used for the description of various social and personal conditions – using, each time, different criteria for its interpretation. The above fact is revealed through the explanations of anomie developed by theorists. An indicative example is the definition of anomie given by Merton (1938); the above theorist stated that ‘anomie results from a disparity between the goals and means prescribed by a society’ (Babbie, 2010, p.136). The above definition even if it includes certain elements of anomie highlighted by Durkheim, if fails to prove the way that anomie can affect individuals. In fact, through the definition of Merton, anomie seems to be related only to the social norms. The relationship of anomie with personal perceptions and attitudes is ignored. Anomie, as described above, could be possibly confused with other terms of similar content, for instance the term ‘mal integration’. However, the research on the relationship between anomie and other sociological terms of similar function would reveal the uniqueness of the specific concept. This fact is highlighted in the study of Adler et al. (1999). In the above study, the issue of the potential relationship between anomie and other similar terms is examined. It is noted that anomie can have similarities with such terms but it is not identical with those terms (Adler et al., 1999, p.107) – reference is made to the potential relationship between anomie and ‘mal-integration’. Moreover, it is made clear that anomie cannot be easily controlled; as suggested by Durkheim, anomie – as described in his studies – can be prevented only by punishment (Adler et al., 1999, p.107). This view is differentiated from the suggestions made by Merton (1938) in regard to the limitation of anomie: the above sociologist noted that anomie is developed because of the ‘overemphasis on goals and the underestimation of means available’ (Adler et al., 1999, p107). It is assumed that the limitation of emphasis given on goals and the increase of attention paid on means available would lead to the decrease of anomie – at least at personal level. Mestrovic (1993) gives another interpretation of anomie – as stated by Durkheim. In accordance with Mestrovitz (1993) anomie can be considered as ‘a total social fact’ (Mestrovic, 1993, p.10); the difference between anomie and the other social facts is that anomie can ‘invoke the social, psychological and physiological dimensions of a society’ (Mestrovic, 1993, p.10). It is not made clear however, whether anomie, in the context described above, can also influence individuals at such level that the suicide rates in a specific society are increased. From another point of view, Hamilton (1990) explained that the roots of the term ‘anomie’ introduced by Durkheim can be found in the Greek word ‘anomia’ which, if translated, means ‘no laws’ (Hamilton, 1990, p.47). In the context of the above explanation, Durkheim used the term ‘anomie’ in order to describe a de-regulated society, where no legal rules are applied either because they do not exist or because there are not appropriate mechanisms to enforce them. Moreover, Turner (1993) noted that the term ‘anomie’ used by Durkheim has two main forms:’ the economic anomie (divided into acute and chronic) and the conjugal anomie (in which domestic and sexual anomie are included)’ (Turner, 1993, p.173). It is made clear that the framework of anomie – as used by Durkheim and other sociologists after him – can be highly differentiated. In accordance with Slattery (2003) Durkheim introduced the concept of anomie in order to describe the psychology of individuals in modern – highly industrialized – societies (Slattery, 2003, p.22). Moreover, it is noted that the perspectives of Durkheim on modern societies are more positive compared to other sociologists, for example Marx. It is from this perspective that the concept of anomie has been developed – even if it seems to emphasize on the negative aspects of industrialized societies. Another important element of the framework used by Durkheim for the development of the concept of anomie has been his view on society. In opposition to other sociologists, Durkheim considered society as an integrated unit, not as a group of teams of individuals with different social and personal characteristics (Slattery, 2003, p.22). Under these terms, the criteria on which the development of the concept of anomie has been based are the following ones: a) the society is a unit; no differentiation exists among groups of persons with particular cultural, racial or educational characteristics, b) each society has prospects to be developed and improved – in terms of its ethics and norms but also in terms of safety provided to the citizens. The above criteria reveal the following contradiction: even if Durkheim considered society as an integrated unit with many prospects for improvement, he used a rather negative term, anomie, to describe the common status of industrialized countries worldwide. This fact can lead to the following assumptions: a) the ideal society, as Durkheim consider it, cannot exist. It is for this reason that Durkheim focuses on the actual problems of modern societies – using the concept of anomie, b) the society which is characterized by anomie has many chances to recover and become a healthy, integrated, society as initially viewed by Durkheim. The introduction of the concept of anomie by Durkheim can be explained by referring to the needs of societies and individuals worldwide. Anomie has been defined using the term ‘normlessness’ (Franzese, 2009, p.34). The concept of anomie can be related both to societies and to individuals. In the last case, anomie is used in order to explain the lack of confidence on the personal skills and prospects but also the lack of trust in the existing social conditions; the above condition can lead to suicide, or else the ‘anomic suicide’ as characterized by Durkheim. The concept of anomie, as developed by Durkheim, can be related to other theories referring to the relationship between the individual and the society. An indicative example is the explanation of the causes of social disorder as given by Freud. In accordance with Freud social disorder can result of ‘ungoverned id’ (Mestrovic, 1992, p.44). From Durkheim’s perspective also, anomie – the term used by Durkheim in order to describe the status of a disorganized state or disorganized person – is depended on ‘ungoverned desires’ (Mestrovic, 1992, p.44). Anomie has been a common problem for societies worldwide. In fact, in accordance with Durkheim, anomie is an inevitable condition for modern societies. However, the risks for the appearance and the development of anomie worldwide are not standardized. It seems that anomie is more likely to appear in industrialized societies – that are more difficult to be controlled as of their social norms. Under these terms, the measures taken by societies in regard to the limitation of anomie can vary. Durkheim notes that the effective confrontation of anomie requires that each society, which suffers from anomie, develop its own plans for controlling the anomie (Fish, 2005, p.86). This is a procedure characterized by Durkheim as individualization of the society, meaning that each society should identify its own needs and structure and introduce the necessary measures in order to prevent the appearance or the development of anomie. The concept of anomie can be related to suicide in the context described by Durkheim. In accordance with Durkheim the concept of anomie can be applied on societies as well as on individuals. This means, that the specific concept can be used for explaining the trends and the ethics developed within a particular society but also to explain the responses of individuals to various social, political or economic events. Moreover, in the categorization of suicide by Durkheim the role of the concept of anomie in explaining the suicide is revealed: the anomic suicide, as characterized by Durkheim, is resulted from the deterioration of social ethics at such point that ‘life becomes aimless and the individual is more prone to commit suicide’ (Marsh, 2005, p.46). Under these terms during periods of strong social turbulences, for instance during extremely adverse economic or political crises, the rate of suicide is expected to be increased (Marsh, 2005, p.46). It is through this interpretation of anomie that the relationship between the concept of anomie and the suicide is made clear. In accordance with Durkheim four types of suicide exist: ‘egoism, altruism, anomie and fatalism’ (Alexander et al., 2005, p.71). The anomic suicide is related to ‘the absence of norms defining the objectives of action and limiting human desire and ambition’ (Alexander et al., 2005, p.71). From this point of view, anomic suicide is not necessarily resulted by the lack of social ethics and norms. It can be depended solely on the personal perceptions and attitudes of individuals, i.e. to be independent from the social conditions. This means that in societies where anomie as a social phenomenon is not developed, the chance for the appearance of anomic suicides still exists. On the other hand, the concept of anomie is highly related with the division of labour using unfair criteria – in anomic societies the division of labour is characterized by the promotion of inequality. In this context also anomie could be related with suicide – even if Durkheim himself established no relationship between anomie and suicide. The above link between anomie and suicide can be described as follows: in societies, which are characterized by anomie, the division of labour is unfair. In the long term, this situation can lead to the increase of the rate of suicide as a result of the exclusion from the workplace (Miller, 1996, p.130); a problem which can be higher when significant amount and money have been invested on the acquisition of the necessary professional skills. Through this approach, anomie is considered to be a social condition that can lead to the suicide under specific terms – referring especially to the personal perceptions and the response of the environment. However, this approach reveals another characteristic of anomie: the specific concept is not necessarily related to suicide. Rather, it can result to suicide if specific requirements are met. Also, through this approach, the relationship between anomie and suicide requires a long period of time, i.e. is not developed automatically, even if the conditions required for this relationship exist. The examination of the elements of anomie in modern society has led to the assumption that, in each common form, the concept of anomie can be used in order to explain the potential appearance and development of suicide in societies worldwide. However, the involvement of the specific concept in the explanation of suicide needs to be based on specific rules. The central meaning of anomie – as developed by Durkheim – cannot be alternated. On the contrary, emphasis should be given on the terms under which anomic can be used for the identification and the analysis of suicide, as a social phenomenon. Works Cited Adler, F., Laufer, W. (1999) The Legacy of Anomie Theory. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers Alexander, J., Smith, P. (2005) The Cambridge companion to Durkheim. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Babbie, E. (2010) The Practice of Social Research. Wadsworth, USA: Cengage Learning Fish, J. (2005) Defending the Durkheimian tradition: religion, emotion and morality Rethinking classical sociology. Hants, UK: Ashgate Publishing Franzese, R. (2009) The sociology of deviance: differences, tradition, and stigma. Illinois: Charles C Thomas Publisher Hamilton, P. (1990) Emile Durkheim: critical assessments. London: Routledge Marsh, I. (2005) Sociology: making sense of society. Essex, UK: Pearson Education Mestrovic, S. (1993) Émile Durkheim and the reformation of sociology. Boston: Rowman & Littlefield Mestrovic, S. (1992) Durkheim and postmodern culture. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers Miller, W. (1996) Durkheim, morals and modernity. Montreal: McGill-Queens Press Morrison, K. (2006) Marx, Durkheim, Weber: formations of modern social thought Sociology Series. London: Pine Forge Press Slattery, M. (2003) Key ideas in sociology. Cheltenham, UK: Nelson Thornes Turner, S. (1993) Emile Durkheim: sociologist and moralist. London: Routledge Read More