Suicide

work by Durkheim

Also known as: “Le Suicide”

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

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In his work Suicide (1897), French sociologist Émile Durkheim explored the social causes of suicide. He introduced the concept of anomie, a state of normlessness where societal standards and values break down, leading to a lack of purpose and despair in individuals. Durkheim argued that this breakdown in social regulation could lead to anomic suicide, where individuals feel disconnected and unsupported by society. He believed that strong social integration and clear societal norms were crucial for individual well-being and could act as a buffer against suicidal tendencies.1234

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Émile Durkheim
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…and in Le Suicide (1897; Suicide). In Durkheim’s view, ethical and social structures were being endangered by the advent of technology and mechanization. He believed that societies with undifferentiated labour (i.e., primitive societies) exhibited mechanical solidarity, while societies with a high division of labour, or increased specialization (i.e., modern societies),…
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…and in Le Suicide (1897; Suicide). In Durkheim’s view, ethical and social structures were being endangered by the advent of technology and mechanization. He believed that societies with undifferentiated labour (i.e., primitive societies) exhibited mechanical solidarity, while societies with a high division of labour, or increased specialization (i.e., modern societies),…
Read More