Durkheim The Sociologist as Scientist With reference to his study of Suicide (Week 3)

Sociology as a ‘positivist science’: i.e. one dealing only with observable, external and objective social factors ‘Suicide’ a challenge to him. Could this seemingly most personal of acts be explained in sociological terms? Note what is to be explained. The suicide rates of different countries or regions which are pretty constant Suicide rates = SOCIAL FACTS (Individual suicides are a problem for the psychologist)

‘Treat SOCIAL FACTS as things’ The suicide rate is an objective thing – measured by official statistics Note objections: rates are made up of individual judgments (and are thus ‘social constructs’) D. Statistically eliminates previous hypotheses Mental illness ? (No: women have more but account for only 20% of French suicides) Genetic factors ? (No: more variation within a ‘race’ than between ‘races’) Climate ? (No: no clear North/South differences)  Concludes cause must be social BUT ‘argument by elimination’ cannot be CONCLUSIVE

‘Explain one SOCIAL FACT only by another SOCIAL FACT’ [1] So, Durkheim sought other social factors closely associated with suicide rates FIRSTLY, more suicides found amongst Protestants than Catholics – why? Since both Churches condemn suicide as sinful, he argues it must be something to do with their forms of social organization Post-Reformation Protestantism stresses private judgement – they are more ‘alone’ before God than Catholics and less enmeshed in a ‘collective conscience’ BUT, doesn’t Church membership have to mean something to people? Can you be enmeshed without feeling it? Can psychology really be kept out?

‘Explain one SOCIAL FACT only by another SOCIAL FACT’ [2] Those integrated in the family have a higher ‘co-efficient of preservation’ (less suicides) Higher for married than the unmarried Higher for widowed than unmarried Higher the greater number of children BUT, can we talk about the family integrating people objectively without them subjectively (psychologically) feeling integrated? After all, most homicides are domestic! Can’t take integration for granted

‘Explain one SOCIAL FACT only by another SOCIAL FACT’ [3] Durkheim feels his case strengthened by the findings that: Suicide rates RISE with large economic fluctuations Suicide FALLS with political crises (war) Because economic crashes decrease social integration (‘anomie’) and war increases it (‘solidarity’)

Durkheim’s overall conclusions ‘Social integration’ via the ‘collective conscience’ explains variations in rates Suicide varies inversely with degree of integration into domestic society Suicide varies inversely with degree of integration into religious society Suicide varies inversely with degree of integration into political society ‘Suicide is inversely related to the degree of social integration’

More specifically There is optimum degree of integration – not just the more the better EGOTISTICAL – product of social disintegration (individual more imp than soc.) ALTRUISTIC – consequence of over- integration (undervalue self in relation to soc.) ANOMIC – result of mal-integration (where relations between means and ends are destroyed)

Durkheim’s Prescriptions Sociology as Social Engineering In last 50 years, D. found suicides rates 3 – 5 times higher than in mid 19 th century This represented a ‘pathological state’ Because: political body too big; family robbed of its functions; religion too ‘un-modern’ Proposes – make divorce more difficult & integrate people through ‘occupational associations’ NOTE: ‘altruistic suicide’ not a problem in Modernity!