SOCA01H3 Lecture 2: Lecture #2
Thursday September 17, 2009 ± Lecture 2 Sociological Theory
Today: Read BRYM Chapter 1, BRYM Chapter 12
-DURKHEIM AND SUICIDE
-READ IN TEXTBOOK, VERY IMPORTANT
-Unlike psychology and philosophy, sociology looks at suicide from all points of views.
-To sociology, suicide appears to be an anti-social, individual act.
-However, Durkheim showed that suicide rates:
1. Decreased with social solidarity.
2. Increase with anomie.
Social Solidarity
-Defined as ties with other people.
-Ex. Family, friends, etc.
Anomie
-Normlessness: social change as producer of anomie.
-Defined as lack of usual social or ethical standards in an individual.
-Ex. debt in family, market crash, unemployment, new job, etc.
Applying to Men vs. Women
-Women have more social solidarity.
-Men have more anomie.
-Therefore, higher suicide rates among men.
-LOGIC: If suicides were just result of individual depression or mental illness, they would NOT
vary systematically by group, time, etc.
Applying to Young vs. Old
-Young have more social solidarity.
-Young and old both have fair amount of anomie. (20+)
-Old may suffer through retirement, isolation from family, etc.
-Therefore, old have higher suicide rate.
Applying to Rural vs. Urban
-More anomie in urban areas (cities)
-More social solidarity in rural areas. (More in the past then now)
-Therefore, higher suicide rates in urban areas.
Applying to Catholic vs. Protestant
-Protestant is more of an individual religion.
-Therefore, protestant have higher suicide rates.
Applying to Aboriginal vs. Non-aboriginal
-Aboriginal have higher anomie, lots of unemployment, and not much social solidarity.
-Therefore, aboriginal have higher suicide rates.
www.notesolution.com
www.notesolution.com
Document Summary
Thursday september 17, 2009 lecture 2 sociological theory. Today: read brym chapter 1, brym chapter 12. Unlike psychology and philosophy, sociology looks at suicide from all points of views. To sociology, suicide appears to be an anti-social, individual act. However, durkheim showed that suicide rates: decreased with social solidarity, increase with anomie. Defined as lack of usual social or ethical standards in an individual. Ex. debt in family, market crash, unemployment, new job, etc. Logic: if suicides were just result of individual depression or mental illness, they would not vary systematically by group, time, etc. Young and old both have fair amount of anomie. (20+) Old may suffer through retirement, isolation from family, etc. More social solidarity in rural areas. (more in the past then now) Aboriginal have higher anomie, lots of unemployment, and not much social solidarity. Therefore, aboriginal have higher suicide rates. www. notesolution. com www. notesolution. com.
