Research Blog #11: Counter-Argument Book Review #3

My theory suggests that nursing students are at a higher risk to commit suicide because of all the academic stress that they are under. However Emile Durkheim, the famous sociologist claimed that suicide was a result of a lack of connections within society. For example, people with a lack of connection from a group or lack of regulations of behavior. Durkheim did not suggest that suicide was a result of an individual's feelings.

Therefore, I decided to use an english version of Durkheim's book, "Le Suicide."

1.) (Photo is of Emile Durkheim himself)

2.)  Durkheim, Émile, and George Simpson. Emile Durkheim; [selections from His Work,. New York:

                    Crowell, 1963. Print.
3.) This book includes Emile Durkheim's investigations on why one commits suicide. Durkheim has  established the three classifications of suicide: egoistic, altruistic, and anomic.
4.) Emile Durkheim is a famous sociologist who explored suicide. Durkheim has made a large contribution into the world of sociology. He collected a lot of data pertaining to suicide and had written many books on the topic as well.
5.) Terms: (The three categories of suicide)
Egoistic- Results from the lack of integration between individual and society.

Altruistic- Results from the individual's taking his own life because of higher commandments, either those of religious sacrifice or unthinking political allegiance.

Anomic- Results from the lack of regulation of the individual by society.

6.) Three Quotations with Explanations:

#1.) "The individualistic characteristics of the spouse is unimportant in explaining the suicide-rate; it depends upon the structure of the family and the roles played by its members." (page 105)
Explanation: This quote argues that family structure has a role in suicide rates. Emile Durkheim did not believe suicide linked to the actual person, but of the people they come from (society). In my argument, I do not support this belief.
#2.) "Durkheim seeks to establish that there are individual forms of suicide which display mixed types, such as the ego-anomic, the altruist-anomic, and the ago altruist." (page 97)
Explanation: These forms of suicide mentioned in the quote above all relate the individual's reason for suicide back to their society. I have already listed the terms for all three of these forms. However, I included this quote in my book review, because they all connect with Durkheim's theory (which differs from my research theory).
#3.) "Durkheim is skeptical about the reliability of the statistics on suicide." (page 240)
Explanation: I chose this quote because in the research I have come across, there are several statistics corresponding to suicide. I find it interesting that Durkheim does not fully trust in statistics on suicide.   

7.) This material greatly helps me to explore my research question since I believe nursing students are at a higher risk for suicide in comparison to other students. I believe this to be true since they are put under a lot of academic stress. However, this book claims that suicide is not a result to this matter but that it is a result of a lack on conformity between the individual and it's society. While reading Durkheim's work, I am able to see other viewpoints of suicide that have been tested throughout history. By reading his work, I might come to the conclusion that perhaps nursing students are not more likely to commit suicide. However, I still firmly believe that there is something connected between nursing students and suicide, and that it is not because of the possiblity that they are "unconnected to their socities."

8.) This book clearly argues against the books I have read for the past book reviews. In my previous book reviews, I read about college students and stress. I also read about students and suicide and what the major factors are. Those books all claimed that stress and depression were contributing factors to student suicide. However, "Le Suicide" strongly disagrees with this.