e toward society to determine morally acceptable goals as well as those norms, mores, and behaviors which will lead to his inclusion or integration within the group. The force, character, and power of the collective society or group outlasts the personality of its members, in DurkheimÆs perspective.
DurkheimÆs theories on morality, individualism, and collective integration or individual disengagement are important in understanding his theories on the sociological nature of suicide. In Suicide, Durkheim (1951) theorizes that suicide can be linked to the degree to which individuals form an attachment with others and/or social groups. He also believed suicide was related to the degree of moral guidance or regulation the individual experiences from others and/or society. In this work, Durkheim attempts to relate differences in suicide rates to differences in group cohesiveness. Durkheim analyzed records of suicides in different countries and for different historical periods and concluded that the greatest barrier against committing suicide in times of personal stress was a sense of involvement and identity with other people. In his view, the possibility or probability of suicide increases among individuals who lack strong group ties or a high degree of integration with society. Durkheim also theorized that suicide tends to increase under conditions of normlessness or anomie, when traditional group norms, values, and expectations no longer seem relevant.
Durkheim (1951) categorized suicide into four classifications: Egoistic, Altruistic, Anomic, and Fatalistic. In egoistic suicide, the individual has weak attachment or integration to and with others or groups. In altruistic suicide, the individual has an unusually high attachment to others and groups. In fatalistic suicide, the individual usually experiences very harsh and oppressive systems of rules and regulations. Anomic suicide is related to DurkheimÆs theory of anomi...