In his 1987 book "Suicide"
Sociologist Emile Durkheim lists four possible reasons that can lead an individual
to suicide:
Egoistic suicide - According to Durkheim, egoistic suicide occurs when someone
loses the bonds that tie him to society. The term "egoistic" does not
imply "selfish" but rather a condition in which someone's reality is
only himself, lacking any ties to anyone else. In a regular condition we find
ourselves in reality through our social position, our role, our relationships
etc. When these are weakened or lost, says Durkheim, we are more prone to
suicide.
Anomic suicide - Anomic suicide is the result of a situation Durkheim defines as
"Anomie".
Anomie is the breakdown or guiding norms as the result of social detachment.
Anomic suicide happens when someone feels he lacks a clear enough understanding
of his reality. Times of rapid change (political, economical or social) are
times in which we may find many people experiencing anomie, some of them will
resort to anomic suicide.
Altruistic suicide - Somewhat opposed to anomic and egoistic suicide we can find what
Durkheim calls "altruistic suicide". While the first two refer to a condition
in which an individual's external ties are weakened, altruistic suicide is the
result of these ties being very strong. In this type of suicide a person
chooses to end his life under the impression that this will benefit his social
group. An example of altruistic suicide can be Jihadist terrorists that are
ready to give their lives for the sake of a perceived collective goal.
Fatalistic suicide - For Durkheim, fatalistic suicide is the result of desperation,
desperation caused by a sense of crushing social powers that erase the self. A
condition in which the social structure denies the individual agency and a
sense of control over his own life might result in fatalistic suicide.
Additional article summaries by Emile Durkheim:
Emile Durkheim - The Rules of Sociological MethodEmile Durkheim - Suicide
"The Genesis of the Notion of the Totemic Principle or Mana" – summary and review" - part 1 -2 -3
What is Social Fact?
Division of Labor in Society
Elementary Forms of Religious Life
Moral Education
Suggested reading:
