Emile Durkheim conducted a research in 1869, on suicide rate in three countries, Denmark England and France. He was not interested in determining the personality traits of the individuals who committed suicide, however, he wanted to identify social links in the countries which influence the rate of suicide. His prime objective of the research was to study the social facts (beliefs, value, norms and culture) of the countries which have impact on suicide rate.
The statistics of his research state that, in England 67 individuals committed out of per million inhabitants, however, in France 137 people committed suicide out of per million inhabitants, whereas highest rate of suicide was in Denmark 277 people committed suicide out of per million inhabitants.
Emile Durkheim got curious about the high rate of suicide in Denmark. He wondered why Denmark have such a high rate of suicide compare to England and France. To find out the answer behind his curiosity, he considered social factor which might influence the behavior of individual to commit suicide. Those social factor are given below;
• Level of solidarity and cohesiveness in society
• Individual standing within a society
• Individual position in religious, social and occupational group
Durkheim identified that, suicide is committed by individual but the reason behind this act is hidden in the social life and group of the individual.
Findings of Durkheim Research
Findings of Durkheim research was based on correlation between some social factor and suicide rate such as, there is relationship between being married or single with suicide rate, people economic position and suicide rate and occupation of people and suicide rate. Detailed findings of Emile Durkheim research on suicide are given below.
Integration
The connectedness of individual with a group is called integration. The more individual is connected, loved and wanted by a group the lower is the chances of committing suicide. Individual who are not wanted or associated with a group, higher the chances of committing suicide.
Religion
Individual who is not affiliated with any religion, has a higher probability of committing suicide. According to Durkheim finding Protestants have high rate committing suicide compare to Jews and Catholics
Marriage
Individual who is not married or single has a higher rate of committing suicide compare to the married individual. Because married individual is more connected and integrated with group than single individual.
Military
Soldiers have higher rate of committing suicide compare to civilians.
Economy
When the economic conditions of a country is unstable there is higher chance of committing suicide by individual compare to the time of prosperity.
Peace and War
The probability of committing suicide in the time of peace is higher than in the time of war.
Wealth
Individuals who are wealthy have higher probability of committing suicide than middle class and lower class individuals.
Sex/Gender
Males have higher rate of suicide compare to females.
Race
The rate of committing suicide in white people are higher than colored people.
