Theory of suicide

Theory of suicide, types and conclusion

1. Theory of suicide Presented by- Deepika Ph.D Research scholar CCS HAU, HARYANA, HISAR

2. Definition- A Suicide is actually the loss of hope, hope that things can improve ever, hope that things will be fine later, hope that I can fight through this.

3. Durkheim’s book suicide was published in 1897. His book is an analysis of a phenomenon regarded as pathological intended to throw light on the evil which threatens modern industrial societies that is anomie. Suicide is an indication of disorganization of both individual and society. Increasing number of suicides clearly indicates something wrong somewhere in the social system of the concerned society.

4. According to Durkheim, suicide refers to every case of death resulting directly or indirectly from a positive or negative death profound by the victim himself and which strives to produce this result. Durkheim was interested in explaining difference in suicide rates that is, he was interested in why one group had a higher rate of suicide than other.

5. Durkheim tended to assume that social psychological, biological factors remain essentially constant from one group to another or from one time period to another. He began suicide with a series of alternative ideas about the causes of suicide. Among these are individual psychological, race, heredity and climate.

6. Durheim identified three basic types of suicide a) Egoistic suicide b) Altruistic suicide social breakdown c) Anomic suicide.

7. Types of Suicide Egoistic suicide (Social ego not strong enough to counter individual ego) Altruistic suicide ( Ex. Sati practice , Army) Anomic suicide (undergoing rapid change)

8. Egoistic suicide E goistic suicide is a product of relative weak group integration. It takes place as a result of extreme loneliness and also out of excess individualism. When men become ‘detached from society’ and when the bonds that previously had tied them to their fellow beings become loose they are more prone to egoistic suicide. Durkheim's belief that lack of integration of the individual into the social group is the main cause for egoistic suicide.

9. According t o him egoistic suicide are committed by those individual who have the tendency to shut themselves up within themselves , such individual feel affronted, hurt and ignored. Introverting traits gain upper hand in them egoistic person are aloof and cut off from the mainstream of society and don't take full interest in social matters such persons get alienated and find it difficult to take cope with social alienation and feel impelled to commit suicide.

10. Altruistic Suicide This kind of suicide takes place in the form of sacrifice in which an individual ends his life by heroic mean so as to promote a cause or an ideal which is very dear to him. It results from the over integration of the individual into his group. In simple words altruistic is taking off one’s own life for the sake of a cause. It means that even high level of social solidarity induces suicide.

11. Example-1.Soldiers who volunteer for a dangerous mission, in which they are likely to lose their lives, out of zeal for and devotion to their country. II. The practices of sati which was once in practices in north India is another example of this kind. Wherever altruistic suicide is prevalent, man is always ready to sacrifice his life for a great cause, principle, ideal or value

12. Anomic Suicide This type of suicide is concerned with social disorganization and imbalance. At the time when social relation get disturbed both social ethics become the causalities, values of life come down and outlook of some persons changes radically. There are then certain dangerous development in society. If the change is sudden, adjustment becomes difficult and those who don’t get adjusted to changes commit suicide. Acc. To Durkheim . Not only economic disaster and industrial crisis but even sudden economic prosperity can causes disruption and deregulation and finally suicide.

13. Social Factors responsible for suicide Suicide is not a result of geographical, hereditary or others factors. It is a social fact which results from the social phenomenon. The balance of happiness caused by lack of resources responsible for happiness makes a man unhappy and needs for suicide are there by sown. Once there is a lack of social integration or social solidarity, the element of suicide begins, All the activities are goal oriented and once the goal is not achieved frustration is caused. The negative pressure is responsible for unhappiness of man which impels him to resort to self destruction or suicide.

14. Evaluation of Durkhiem theory of suicide comments in appreciation I) L.A Coser- could be cited as a monumental landmark study in which conceptual theory and empirical research are brought together in an imposing manner. II) Abraham and Morgan- have said ‘the larger significance of suicide lies in its demonstration of function of sociological theory in empirical science. III) A successful attempt is made in this theory to establish logically the link between social solidarity social control and suicide.

15. Critical Comments I) Durheim has given importance only to social factors in suicide. In doing so he has neglected the role of other factor especially the psychological. Hence this is one-sided show. II) The theory is based upon a very small sample of data concerning suicide. III) As criminologists have pointed out- economic, psychological and even religious factors may lead to suicide. But Durheim did not give any importance to these factors.