This document summarizes Emile Durkheim's theory of suicide from his 1897 book. Durkheim analyzed suicide rates to understand why some groups had higher rates than others. He identified three types of suicide: egoistic (from weak social integration), altruistic (from over-integration into a group), and anomic (from rapid social change causing imbalance). Durkheim believed social factors, not individual ones, caused suicide rates to vary. His theory used empirical data to link social solidarity, control, and suicide rates, establishing sociology's role in empirical science. However, it was criticized for neglecting psychological factors and relying on limited suicide data.

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. 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 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 to 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.