Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) used scientific methods to study society and overall sociology. He argued that sociology should be taken as the scientific study of social facts i.e. social values, cultural norms, social structures, behavioral patterns and characteristics of a particular group. He is known as the founder of functionalism.
Functionalism: Society consists of various social institutions. Each social institute plays a distinct role in the society. Hence, all the social institutes collectively make the society functional and ordered. Moreover, the malfunctioning of a social institution disturbs the smooth functioning of the society and creates disorder.
Collective Conscience: As an individual has a conscience, in the same sense a society has a collective conscience. Therefore a society influences, encourages and sometimes coerces individuals through collective conscience.
Social solidarity: There are two types of solidarity;
Mechanical solidarity: Societies with no clear division of labor, people are dependent on each other and have similar social values, customs, traditions, religions, etc. In these societies deviance is controlled strictly due to strong collective conscience.
Organic Solidarity: Mostly, developed societies have clear division of labor, people are not much dependent on each other due to different social values, customs, traditions, religions, etc. In these societies, there is no strict action against deviance behavior due to weak collective conscience. Moreover, the people in these societies are less integrated and more inclined to suicide.
Suicide: In his book, “Suicide - A study of Sociology (1897)”, he claimed that forced division of labor has decreased social integration in the society. Moreover, less social integration creates anomy (or anomie) which is a major cause of suicide. He pointed out two major factors (Social integration and Regulations) behind suicide.
Four types:
Egoistic Suicide (absence of social integration): Ego means self. An individual who concentrated too much on himself is less socially integrated and is more inclined to suicide. Besides that, social institutes have their positive or negative impact on social integration in society.
Religion: Religion promotes social integration. However, Protestants are vulnerable to suicide than Catholics because the former concentrates on strong ties among followers, whereas the later promotes individualism.
Family: Suicide is more common in single people than couples and very less among those having children.
Education: Educated people are critical and less integrated into society.
Altruistic Suicide (over integration): A soldier and a follower of a religion can sacrifice his life for the sake of his country and religion respectively.
Anomic Suicide (absence of Regulations): A person who loses his loved ones or a rich person becomes poor abruptly, becomes confused about how to react to this unexpected change.
Fatalistic Suicide (over regulations): Slaves and prisoners and very common victims of it. Moreover, Childless women and somewhere students under pressure may vulnerable to suicide.