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Unit-16: Theory of Suicide

The main attribute of Durkheim’s, this suicide related theory is that he has abandoned personal or notes
psychological causes of suicide and he has tried to hold responsible social factors of suicide itself.
Durkheim has done extreme hard work in order to present this thought list. He, collected suicide related
figures after doing an extensive search. On this basis the suicide is a social event and considering it a
social factor only, Durkheim has emphasised on its study.

Notes Durkheim has abandoned popular theories related o suicide. As per him mental
and hereditable causes do not develop suicide. Suicide develops because of the
mood in the social life. This major theory of his is based on this central thought
itself.

concept and causes of suicide

In order to clear the delusion of general meaning of suicide, Durkheim in his book, has first and foremost
present thoughts relating to its concept. From this view, Durkheim has analysed deaths of all types
and has determined the attributes of deaths through suicide and has defined suicide on the basis of
these attributes itself. In this relation, Durkheim has written, “Though generally it is considered that
suicide is definitely a violent act, in which physical power is used but it may also happen that same
results come out of a person’s negative thoughts or just repose.” On this basis, Durkheim has written
clarifying further, “word suicide can be used for any such death that is a direct or indirect counter
result of any positive or negative work done by the dead himself.” But Durkheim was not satisfied
by these definitions. His firstly tried in his theory that difference is found between other deaths and
suicide. He, in order to clarify his concept of suicide, proposed that “external aspects of suicide have
a mentionable place. These external aspects are influential from this view only if we interfere in them,
because we cannot search the feelings and objectives of person causing self- destruction.”

non-social cause of suicide

From the view of analysing the popular causes of suicide, Durkheim has thought broadly. From this
view Durkheim has taken non- social factors. In these factors Savyavi psychological abilities and
natural atmosphere etc have been made the focus. Firstly, Durkheim has presented his thoughts on
factors of psychological complaints. In this view he has presented analysis of his view on madness,
intoxication, generics and hereditary complaints factors etc. in this relation, Durkheim has written
that all these reasons are incapable of presenting the actual nature of suicide and they cannot be
considered the causes of suicide.
In this great book of Durkheim has further thought over suicide and geographical factors. From his
view he has thought over factors such as air-water, temperature, day or night time etc. before carrying
forward his main theory, Durkheim has discussed the relation between suicide and imitation. Durkheim
has made all these factors influential. We may present the summary of Durkheim’s theory of suicide
in short in the below mentioned manner:

theory of suicide

In this theory of his on the subject of suicide, Durkheim has completely followed his basic principle
of sociology. Under this he has presented this theory of his on the basis of extensive data through

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