A Study in Sociology Essay

felo-de-se always fascinated academic researches for a long sentence however it is has been an ara of study limited to the field of psychology. Sociology is a relatively new field of considerably-disposed sciences. It started watching into self-annihilation, not just as a personalized work on, but as a friendly bodily process which is not entirely divorced from kindly forces. This paper discusses pertinent studies on the phenomenon of self-destruction and seeks to present literatures concerning this execution. Moreover, differing ideas and interpretations on self-destruction ar presented to cargonfully polish contrastive prospects on the subject matter.A Study in Sociology arguably the first person to connect felo-de-se to the study of sociology is sociologist Emile Durkheim. He presented that although self-destruction is a personal choice of the mortal, the act is not separated from the linguistic context of a confederation. He looked into pre-existing records and analyzed suicide trends in different societies. Based on these suicide trends, there ar four classifications of suicide 1) Egoistic 2) Altruistic 3) Anomic and 4) Fatalistic. Social cohesion plays a spanking role in Durkheims theories on suicide.Egoistic suicide occurs when a person has a relatively low degree of integration into a society. On the other hand, a high degree of integration into a society can in addition result in suicides that are meant for a higher cause indoors a society. He in like manner argued that removes in social order and the individuals perception towards social change would explain anomic suicides. The phenomenon of fatalism takes place in extreme social contexts, where a person would decide on killing himself rather than suffering imposing social conditions (Durkheim, 1951). Self and SocietyFrom an object of study limited to psychology, suicide became a subject of sociology. Durkheims research proved that the traditional perspective that view the subject matter as a psychological mien and entirely single in nature is a constricted cloth when looking into suicide. This implies that social structures, social forces as well as social conflicts and changes are intervening instruments in a suicide phenomenon. C. Wright Mills (2000) back up that one cannot separate behaviors and actions of an individual from the larger social context.He wrote that the personal troubles of the milieu are connected to the public issues of social structure. The individual committing suicide must therefore be located in his social as well as historical contexts. Current Trends on felo-de-se Studies later Mills and Durkheim laid the foundations of suicide as a sociological subject, numerous studies concerning suicide have been conducted in both psychology and sociology. Currently, suicide studies are interconnected with other factors such as gender, poverty, small arms, mental disorders and pull down medicine.It is now uniteed to modernit y (Baudelot and Establet, 2008), attitudes and experiences of oncology patients (Emanuel, Fairclough, Daniels & Clarridge, 1996), a demographic-specific trend such as teens (Brent, et. al. , 1988), cultural forces (West, 2005), economic conditions (Ruhm, 2000), as well as access to weapons (Brent, et. al. 1991). Suicide and Modernity Baudelot and Establet (2008) worked with Durkheims premises in their study of suicide.They stated that The link between suicide, affluence and individualism is more complexsuicide judge do reflect broad social trends but they are in any case influenced by the structural position and lived experience of small social groups. The spirit of social well-being is demonstrated to be a key factor in changes in suicide rates. objet dart sociology itself cannot accurately predict a suicide case, the collective gathering of these cases provides a fertile ground for sociological interpretations. Modernity is a historical as well as social era where social cha nges occur and these cases of suicide are descriptive of their milieu.Suicide, seen as such in the context of modernity, is a social fact. It describes the changes that occurred during the time of modernity. Societies that are rigid in its goals during the time of modernity are those that adamantly chased modernization. It is in this context that suicide rates are known to be higher in the Communist Bloc, China and India (Baudelot and Establet, 2008). Economics and Suicide While both affluent and starving groups of individuals commit suicide, the role of economics cannot be downplayed in the study of suicide.On the macro-economic level, the period of modernity prominently features suicide trends in a time where economies were vibrant and booming. On the other hand, a stagnating economy, such as in a recession, also has an effect on suicide. Ruhm (2000) argues that unemployment is negatively correlated to mortality and that unemployment is positively correlated to suicide. In Japan, suicide is seen in a cultural context. Since individuals in the Japanese society are strongly connected to their social, political and cultural spheres, there is tendency for the relate and pull of altruistic-egoistic suicide to occur.This is seen when the rule of law in Japanese society permeates the personal sphere such that debts and divorces are major factors affecting suicide (West, 2005). Suicide and Norms Sociology also attempted to explain suicide in a broader senseby zooming out of the individual and focusing on social factors that affect the phenomenon. Psychology argues that those committing suicide are psychologically ill or that the individuals committing them are inept in their coping appliances. While suicide competency seem ir intellectual, there are rational premises that are least likely explored.Societies that are relatively more tolerant of suicide, as well as the individuals cognitive ability to rationalize the act are also extraordinary factors contributing to suicide trends. Rendering rational suicide normative in a society creates the positive feedback mechanism necessary for a rational suicide to occur. This type of suicide is also surprisingly limited to a specific demographic, namely the educated and successful. tenability of Suicide One of the fundamental question relating suicide and society lies in the tenableness of the act.Is the act rational based only on the perceptions and actions of the individual, thereby rendering the act an exclusive study within psychology? Or is this rationality of the act itself being defined not only in terms of the individuals values but a rationality that is predetermined by the values and norms of a society? Although there are many reasons for suicide, there are factors that least likely determine dangerous trends, but are potent social forces (i. e. education, family, religion) that must be considered.Suicide occurs for a number of reasons such as depression, substance abuse, shame, avoiding upset, financial difficulties or other undesirable fates. Defying the commonplace definition is the concept of rational suicide. perspicacious suicide is ending ones life out of a conviction that one has lived long enough, that the likely future holds more pain than joy (Lerner, 2004). Surprisingly, rationality of a suicide act Keown (1995) showed that there is primordial value placed on the moral intention behind the act of death itself.This applies not just in euthanasia but also in rational suicide. What are the intentions behind the suicide? Is the decision self-employed person of lifes problems that can be solved? Is it free from international pressure from a belief system, mores or culture itself? This is the litmus trial run of the rationality or irrationality of suicides. Sociological and psychological studies attempted to look into the duality of forces working on suicidesindividual and social. It is arguably psycho-social factors that are settled of the suicide tr ends across societies.Social institutions, many sociological studies posit, are acting a huge role in the nature and type of suicides in a given society. Stack and Kposowa (2008) concludes that National suicide rates are predictive of individual-level suicide acceptability. However, the main predictors of suicide acceptability included a measure from social learning theory, religiosity, and a neglected measure of apply theory, life satisfaction. While the act of committing suicide is a very individualistic act, there are factors to be considered that are social forces with repercussions and influences on individual action.The act of suicide presents how the personal milieu is linked to the larger issues within the social institutions.ReferencesBaudelot C. and Establet R. (2008) Suicide The Hidden Side of Modernity. John Wiley Publications. Brent, D. A. , Perper, J. A. , Goldstein, C. E. , Kolko, D. J. , Allan, M. J. , Allman, C. J. , and Zelenak, J. P. (1988) Risk factors for ado lescent suicide. A comparison of adolescent suicide victims with suicidal inpatients. Archives of everyday Psychiatry. Vol. 45, No. 6, June 1988.