Durkheim suicide Positivism

Question 1

What were the three trends

Answer 1

1) Suicide rates remain constant and predictable over time
2) Remain constant between societies
3) Remain constant between social groups within the same society

Question 2

What did Durkheim conclude?

Answer 2

The suicide rate was not the result of individuals using their free will

Question 3

What did Durkheim hypothesise?

Answer 3

The suicide rate was a social fact, suicidal behaviour is shaped by the nature of the society to which the individual belongs, and its level of social integration and moral regulation

Society failure to integrate particular individuals into society

Question 4

What was the main type of suicide?

Answer 4

‘Egoistic’ suicide, was caused by too much individualism

Question 5

How does religion play a role?

Answer 5

Whether individuals were sufficiently integrated or not

Protestants were more likely to kill themselves because of the failure to impose a strong sense of community on their followers leading to people believing that they were more important than the group hence egoism and suicidal action

Catholic’s sense of community meaning they had a stronger sense of belonging to society by stricter community control, means they were less likely to commit suicide