Suicide is frequently believed to be an individual act, however, Emile Durkheim proposes it as a social fact that is dictated by society. Suicide is higher for men than women, single versus married, times of peace over war, and Protestants more so than Catholics and Jews. Such examples indicate that genetics are not the sole role for suicide and these differences between demographics are caused by society. Abrupt changes in economic activity are another factor in suicide rates, and, contradictory, that includes fortunate crises. A higher GDP, on average, correlates with higher suicide rates. For example, the United States and Japan have higher suicide rates than Mexico and Philippines. Mexico and the Philippines are also majority Catholic nations,
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They also have diminished economies with Mexico at $16,558 GDP/cap and the Philippines at $4,140 GDP/cap. Durkheim believes “poverty may even be considered a protection” (Durkheim, From Suicide: A Study in Sociology, pg. 125) towards suicide. Consequently, the deficient incomes of the Philippines and Mexico keep people in place with low expectations. These counties have a more collectivist society than the United States and “society alone can play this moderating role” (Durkheim, From Suicide: A Study in Sociology, pg. 127) that assigns a path for each individual. Fortunately, those individuals respect and follow the roles society moderates and, therefore, constitute a stable equilibrium. The collectivist society is bolstered by Catholicism dominating both the Philippines and Mexico. Unlike Protestantism, Catholicism accentuates one interpretation of the bible. Henceforth, followers of that religion are intuitively closer to each other and are shielded from the loneliness that plagues other societies. Durkheim’s theory definitively explains the low suicide rates in Mexico and the Philippines, but fails to do so in
They also have diminished economies with Mexico at $16,558 GDP/cap and the Philippines at $4,140 GDP/cap. Durkheim believes “poverty may even be considered a protection” (Durkheim, From Suicide: A Study in Sociology, pg. 125) towards suicide. Consequently, the deficient incomes of the Philippines and Mexico keep people in place with low expectations. These counties have a more collectivist society than the United States and “society alone can play this moderating role” (Durkheim, From Suicide: A Study in Sociology, pg. 127) that assigns a path for each individual. Fortunately, those individuals respect and follow the roles society moderates and, therefore, constitute a stable equilibrium. The collectivist society is bolstered by Catholicism dominating both the Philippines and Mexico. Unlike Protestantism, Catholicism accentuates one interpretation of the bible. Henceforth, followers of that religion are intuitively closer to each other and are shielded from the loneliness that plagues other societies. Durkheim’s theory definitively explains the low suicide rates in Mexico and the Philippines, but fails to do so in