On SuicideEmile Durkheim's On Suicide (1897) was a groundbreaking book in the field of sociology. Traditionally, suicide was thought to be a matter of purely individual despair but Durkheim recognized that the phenomenon had a social dimension. He believed that if anything can explain how individuals relate to society, then it is suicide: Why does it happen? What goes wrong? Why do certain social, religious or racial groups have higher incidences of suicide than others? As Durkheim explored these questions he became convinced that abnormally high or low levels of social integration lead to an increased likelihood of suicide. On Suicide was the result of his extensive research. Divided into three parts - individual reasons for suicide, social forms of suicide and the relation of suicide to society as a whole - Durkheim's revelations have fascinated, challenged and informed readers for over a century. |
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according action aggravation altruistic suicide anomie arrondissement of Meaux attributed average become Catholic Celts cent characteristics circumstances coecient collective commit suicide common compared consequently considered constitution contrary countries crimes Denmark départements derive divorce Durkheim effect egotistical suicide Émile Durkheim existence explain extent fact factor feelings figures France German greater heredity homicide husbands idea Île-de-France imitation immunity increase individual influence insane intensity Italy kill less madness marriage married means mental illness million inhabitants monomania moral moral constitution Moreover Morselli murder nature neurasthenia number of suicides observed Oettingen organism pantheism Paris particular period person phenomenon population preservation coefficient produce Protestant Protestantism Prussia race rate of suicide reality reason relationship religion religious result rise Saxony Seine-et-Marne social environment society statistics suicidal tendency suicide rate suicides per million Table tendency to suicide type of suicide unmarried variations varies voluntary deaths widowers widowhood women