Question

Higher suicide rate during rapid progress in a society is a manifestation of

• A. altruistic suicide.
• B. anomic suicide.
• C. egoistic suicide.
• D. None of the above.
• A. to document that suicide can be explained without reference to the individual.
• B. to provide an explanation of the variation in the rate of suicide across societies.
• C. to categorize various types of suicides.
• D. to document that social behavior can be explained by social rather than psychological factors.
• A. altruistic suicide.
• B. anomic suicide.
• C. egoistic suicide.
• D. Both a and c.
• A. anomic suicide.
• B. altruistic suicide.
• C. egoistic suicide.
• D. Both (b) and (c).
• A. absence of social ties.
• B. disruption of social regulation.
• C. nature of social integration.
• D. All of the above.
• A. military personnel than among civilians.
• B. single people than among married people.
• C. divorcees than among married people.
• D. people involved in nationwide economic crises.
• A. right on some counts, not others.
• B. vindicated on all counts.
• C. wrong but did not realize that he was right.
• D. substantially correct but formally wrong.
• A. social behaviour is explicable predominantly through social factors.
• B. suicide is contingent upon the degree of regulation and interaction.
• C. recognizing sociology is to acknowledge that society is susceptible to scientific investigation.
• D. All of the above.
• A. a manifestation of strong social integration.
• B. an example of brutality against women.
• C. an example of anomic suicide.
• D. an example of egoistic suicide.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Durkheim classified suicides into three categories: egoistic, altruistic, and anomic.
Anomic suicide arises when societal norms are disrupted—either due to downturns or rapid prosperity. When people face a sudden change in their lives such as new jobs, relocation, or disconnection from familiar settings during progress, it leads to a loss of social regulation. This state is called anomie.
Hence, during times of rapid progress in society, if suicide rates rise, it reflects anomic suicide due to disintegrating social controls. \[ \text{Correct answer is } \boxed{\text{(b) anomic suicide}} \]

Answer 2

Durkheim’s groundbreaking work laid the foundation for treating sociology as a scientific discipline. His study of suicide was meant to demonstrate that even deeply personal actions like suicide could be understood through social causes rather than individual psychological factors. In particular, he argued that variations in suicide rates could be attributed to differences in the degree of social integration and regulation within different societies. Thus, he did not focus merely on classifying suicide types or documenting variations, but rather aimed to establish that social behavior (like suicide) could be studied objectively and systematically.

Answer 3

According to Durkheim, anomic suicide occurs when there is a breakdown in the social norms that regulate behavior—typically during sudden changes in economic status, such as depression or even prosperity. In economic depression, individuals may feel helpless, normless, or detached due to the collapse of social expectations. These feelings contribute to an increased risk of suicide. Durkheim emphasized that this lack of regulation and abrupt change in life conditions causes individuals to lose their sense of direction and meaning, which is the essence of anomic suicide.

Answer 4

Egoistic suicide stems from a lack of social integration. Durkheim observed that individuals who are less connected to social groups—such as single adults or those who live in isolation—are more prone to suicide. Married individuals, on the other hand, often have stronger family and community ties, which act as protective factors. Therefore, the absence of strong social bonds in single adults is what makes them more susceptible, falling under the category of egoistic suicide.

Answer 5

Durkheim’s model of suicide classified causes based on the level of integration and regulation in society. He defined: - Egoistic suicide as due to lack of integration (e.g., singles or isolated individuals),
- Altruistic suicide as due to excessive integration (e.g., soldiers dying for the country), and
- Anomic suicide as due to disruption in regulation (e.g., during economic changes). Each of these categories arises from different disruptions in social bonds. Therefore, suicide rates are influenced by the absence or excess of social ties, the nature of social integration, and disruptions in social norms and regulations. Thus, all options are applicable.

Answer 6

Durkheim categorized altruistic suicide as that which results from excessive integration into social groups, leading individuals to sacrifice their lives for the group’s interest. Military personnel, due to intense loyalty and discipline, often display this behavior more than civilians. Therefore, such suicides are more likely in the military.

Answer 7

Durkheim was interested in proving that suicide, though highly individual, could be explained through social causes. He succeeded in showing patterns based on marital status, profession, and economic conditions, demonstrating the role of integration and regulation. The passage confirms that all his key hypotheses were validated.

Answer 8

Durkheim’s study emphasized three main conclusions: 1) Social behavior has social causes, 2) Suicide rates depend on social integration and regulation, and 3) Sociology is a valid scientific discipline. All three points were confirmed by his data and analysis. Hence, “All of the above” is the correct response.

Answer 9

According to Durkheim, altruistic suicide arises when social integration is so intense that individual will is overtaken by group norms. Hindu widow self-immolation was cited as a cultural tradition reflecting such intense integration, where personal life was sacrificed for the expectations of society.