The Sociology of Suicide by Victoria Grille (FGCU)

Suicide is usually classified as a psychological issue, due to the fact that it is usually related to personal problems, such as depression and a personal choice to perform the act of suicide. However, as the years have gone on, sociologists have been able to look at suicide as a sociological issue. There are various social factors that contribute to an individual committing suicide.Emile Durkheim was the one sociologist to analyze suicide. He stated that “individual choices have social influences.” He used social factors such degree of integration into society- the degree to which collective sentiments are shared- and degree of regulation by society-the degree of external constraint on people. Suicide rates are increased during times of political crisis, war and economic change. The number of suicides can also be directly related to family integration, by which those in larger families are less likely to commit suicide because there is more family integration.Considering that suicide is considered an act of deviance, it is looked down upon by many cultures and religions. It is a sin and violates a sacred “norm” because people should value their lives.Those that are most impacted by suicide are those that feel as if they do not fit into society. Lower class, males, college-aged students, and racially discriminated individuals are those that feel the effects of suicide. This is due to low income, which results in limited access to resources, as well as stress, pressure, being alone. Men are more likely to succeed in committing suicide while women are more likely to attempt suicide.People do not think when they are attempting suicide, their minds are blocked and it is a rational choice. A suicide attempt may be a way of moving towards other people (symbolic interactionism) for help and personal acceptance.Emile Durkheim has classified suicide into different categories, dealing with social influences. They deal with social integration and social change/regulation. Egotistic suicide deals with too little social integration, while altruistic deals with too much social integration. Anomic suicide deals with too much social change/too little regulation, while fatalistic suicide deals with too little social change/too much regulation.More than 33,000 americans die by suicide every year. 24% of the general population has considered suicide at some time in his/her life. And between 1952 and 1995 suicide in young adults has nearly tripled.

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