Emile Durkheim, the first person to be formally recognized as a sociologist and the most scientific of the pioneers, conducted a study that stands as a research model for sociologists today. His investigation of suicide was, in fact, the first sociological study to use statistics. In suicide (1964, originally published in 1897) Durkheim documented his contention that some aspects of human behaviour – even something as allegedly individualistic as suicide – can be explained without reference to individuals.
Like all of Durkheim’s work, suicide must be viewed within the context of his concern for social integration. Durkheim wanted to see if suicide rates within a social entity (for example, a group, organization, or society) are related to the degree to which individuals are socially involved (integrated and regulated). Durkheim describes three types of suicide: egoistic, anomic, and altruistic. Egoistic suicide is promoted when individuals do not have sufficient social ties. Since single (never married) adults, for example, are not heavily involved with the family life, they are more likely to commit suicide than are married adults. Altruistic suicide on the other hand, is more likely to occur when social integration is too strong. The ritual suicide of Hindu widows on their husbands funeral pyres is one example. Military personnel, trained to lay down their lives for their country, provide another illustration.
Durkheim’s third type of suicide – anomic suicide increases when the social regulation of individuals is disrupted. For example, suicide rates increase during economic depressions. People who suddenly find themselves without a job or without hope of finding one are more prone to kill themselves. Suicides may also increase during period of prosperity. People may loosen their social ties by taking new jobs, moving to new communities, or finding new mates.
Using data from the government population reports o several countries (much of it from the French Government Statistical Office), Durkheim found strong support for his line reasoning. Suicide rates were higher among single than married people, among military personnel than civilians, among divorced than married people, and among people involved in nationwide economic crises.
It is important to realize that Durkheim’s primary interest was not in the empirical (observations) indicators he used such as suicide rates among military personnel, married people, and so forth. Rather, Durkheim used the following indicators to support several of his contentions: (1) Social behavior can be explained by social rather than psychological factors; (2) suicide is affected by the degree of integration and regulation within social entities; and (3) Since society can be studied scientifically, sociology is worthy of recognition in the academic world. Durkheim was successful on all three counts.
In his study of suicide, Durkheim’s main purpose was
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- to document that suicide can be explained without reference to the individual
- to provide an explanation of the variation in the rate of suicide across societies
- to categorize various types of suicides
- to document that social behavior can be explained by social rather than psychological factors
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 2: Option A directly matches this purpose: documenting that suicide can be explained without individual reference.
Step 3: Option B (variation across societies) is a byproduct, not the main purpose.
Step 4: Option C (categorizing suicides) is a method used, not the primary goal.
Step 5: Option D (social vs. psychological factors) is related but less specific than A, which focuses on suicide explicitly.
Verification: The passage emphasizes explaining suicide via social factors, aligning with option A.
Single adults not heavily involved with family life are more likely to commit suicide. Durkheim categorized this as
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- anomic suicide
- altruistic suicide
- egoistic suicide
- Both (B) and (C)
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 2: Option C (egoistic suicide) matches this definition.
Step 3: Option A (anomic suicide) relates to disrupted social regulation, like economic crises, not lack of ties.
Step 4: Option B (altruistic suicide) occurs with excessive social integration, opposite to the scenario.
Step 5: Option D (both B and C) is incorrect as only egoistic suicide applies.
Verification: The passage explicitly links single adults’ lack of ties to egoistic suicide.
According to Durkheim, suicide rates within a social entity can be explained in terms of
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- absence of social ties
- disruption of social regulation
- nature of social integration
- All of the above
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 2: These factors collectively explain suicide rates within social entities.
Step 3: Option A (absence of social ties) covers egoistic suicide.
Step 4: Option B (disruption of social regulation) covers anomic suicide.
Step 5: Option C (nature of social integration) covers altruistic suicide (excessive integration).
Step 6: Option D (all of the above) includes all three factors mentioned in the passage.
Verification: All three factors are explicitly linked to suicide rates in the passage.
Basing himself on his own indicators, Durkheim was
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- right on some counts, not others
- vindicated on all counts
- wrong but did not realize that he was right
- substantially correct but formally wrong
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 2: Option B (vindicated on all counts) matches this statement.
Step 3: Option A (right on some counts) is incorrect as the passage claims success on all counts.
Step 4: Option C (wrong but thought right) contradicts the passage’s claim of success.
Step 5: Option D (substantially correct but formally wrong) is not supported; the passage does not mention formal errors.
Verification: The passage explicitly states Durkheim’s success on all indicators, supporting option B.
To support his contentions, Durkheim relied on the following indicators
Show Hint
- social behaviour is explicable predominantly through social factors
- suicide is contingent upon the degree of regulation and interaction
- recognizing sociology is to acknowledge that society is susceptible to scientific investigation
- All of the above
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 2: Option A matches contention (1).
Step 3: Option B matches contention (2).
Step 4: Option C matches contention (3).
Step 5: Option D (all of the above) includes all three indicators listed in the passage.
Step 6: The passage confirms Durkheim used all these indicators to support his study.
Verification: Option D encompasses all contentions explicitly mentioned.
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