Emile Durkheim Suicide Theory Emile Term Paper

This argument brings Durkheim's theory into modern society.

Durkheim's Suicide Theory made a lot of sense in the early 1900s. Over the years, many changes in society have occurred, making some of his work appear outdated. However, Pescosolido's and Georgianna's "network" theory expands Durkheim's theory for modern times. Durkheim expected the circumstances of his argument to change, so it makes sense that modern sociologists should revisit and reapply his theory. There are more and more societies and religions, and therefore their inclusion is necessary to the acceptance of Durkheim's theory today.

Durkheim's theory seems to be flawed in some ways, some of his concepts are very helpful in trying to understand the complex origins of suicidal behavior. Durkheim's dismissal of mental illness as a key determinant of suicidal behavior weakens his thesis as a whole.However, his conceptualization of anomic, egoistic and altruistic suicide helps us to understand modern trends in suicidal behavior in the United States.

References

Cheng, ATA (1995). Mental illness and suicide: A case-control study in east Taiwan. Archives of General Psychiatry 52, 594-603.

Dhossche, Dirk. (January, 2003). Does Durkheim's Social Theory of Suicide Apply More to Assisted Suicide than Suicide? Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Durkheim, Emile. (1897-1997 reprint). Suicide. The Free Press.

Giddens, Anthony. Sociology. Second Edition. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1993.

Pescosolido, Bernice A. And Sharon Georgianna. "Durkheim, Suicide, and Religion: Toward a Network Theory of Suicide." American Sociological Review February, 54 (1989).

Rich, CL, Young, D, and Fowler, RC (1986). San Diego suicide study: I. Young vs. old subjects. Archives of General Psychiatry 43, 577-582.

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