Suicide in Sociological Perspective: From Classical, Modern to Postmodern Views
Keywords:
Critical Sociology, Social Inequality, Suicide, Symbolic Interactionism
Abstract
Suicide is a psychological issue that affects individuals, but it also represents complicated societal dynamics and integration issues in contemporary society, which makes this research significant. This study's goal is to examine the phenomena of suicide from a sociological standpoint, drawing on Emile Durkheim's classical ideas as well as contemporary sociological theories including conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, and critical sociology. The methodology is qualitative library research using a variety of primary and secondary materials from national and international books and scientific journals. According to the study's findings, societal factors that greatly influence suicidal behavior include social stigma, structural inequity, inadequate social cohesion, and the pressures of consumerist culture and social media. In conclusion, a sociological perspective offers a more thorough comprehension of suicide as a social occurrence, indicating that preventative tactics ought to concentrate on societal structural and cultural shifts in addition to focusing on people.
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Synder, H. (2021). “Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines.” Journal of Business Research, 104.
The Guardian – International Edition. (2025). Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/international
Wenz, F. V. (1978). Multiple Suicide Attempts and Informal Labeling: An Exploratory Study. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1943-278X.1978.tb01079.x
WHO, W. H. O. (2023). Suicide in the world: Global Health Estimates. World Health Organization,Geneva.
Wikipedia Contributors. (2023). Suicide of Rehtaeh Parsons. Retrieved June 29, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Rehtaeh_Parsons
World Health Organization. (2019). Suicide worldwide in 2019: Global Health Estimates. World Health Organization,Geneva.
Wray, M., Colen, C., & Pescosolido, B. (2011). The sociology of suicide. Annual Review of Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-081309-150058
Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2019). Guidance on Conducting a Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X17723971
Amnesty International. (2014). ‘My Sleep is My Break’’ Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers in Qatar.’ London, United Kingdom: Amnesty International Ltd. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/MDE22/004/2014/en/
Chang, S. Sen, Gunnell, D., Sterne, J. A. C., Lu, T. H., & Cheng, A. T. A. (2009). Was the economic crisis 1997-1998 responsible for rising suicide rates in East/Southeast Asia? A time-trend analysis for Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand. Social Science and Medicine, 68(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.01.010
Chu, H., Yang, Y., Zhou, J., Wang, W., Qiu, X., Yang, X., … Zhao, E. (2021). Social Support and Suicide Risk Among Chinese University Students: A Mental Health Perspective. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.566993
Contributors, W. (2023). Suicide of Hamed Nastoh. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Hamed_Nastoh
Contributors, W. (2024). Suicide of Sladjana Vidovic. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Sladjana_Vidovic
Contributors, W. (2025). Sati (practice). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sati_(practice)
Danandjaja, J. (2014). Metode Penelitian Kepustakaan. Antropologi Indonesia, 0(52). https://doi.org/10.7454/ai.v0i52.3318
Dohrenwend, B. P. (1959). Egoism, Altruism, Anomie, and Fatalism: A Conceptual Analysis of Durkheim’s Types. American Sociological Review, 24(4). https://doi.org/10.2307/2089533
Durkheim, E. (1898). Le Suicide: Etude de sociologie. Livre premier : les facteurs extra-sociaux. Psychological Review, 5(4).
Durkheim, E. (2005). Suicide: A study in sociology. Suicide: A Study in Sociology. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203994320
Goffman, E. (1974). Stigma; Notes on the management of spoiled identity. JASON ARONSON, NEW YORK, N.Y., (147 p.) $US 7.50. https://doi.org/10.2307/2575995
Halopos, R. (2025). Pengaruh Media Sosial terhadap Kesehatan Mental Remaja, Mahasiswa, dan Gen Z.
Imhoff, R., Bertlich, T., & Frenken, M. (2022). Tearing apart the “evil” twins: A general conspiracy mentality is not the same as specific conspiracy beliefs. Current Opinion in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101349
Kurniawan, L. A. A. R. F. (2022). Di Balik Aksi Bunuh Diri Live di Media Sosial.
Lițan, D. E. (2025). Online Captive: The Impact of Social Media Addiction on Depression and Anxiety—An SEM Approach to the Mediating Role of Self-Esteem and the Moderating Effects of Age and Professional Status. Behavioral Sciences, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15040481
Marson, S. M., & Lillis, J. P. (2019). Durkheim’s greatest blunder. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 46(2). https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.4182
Mueller, A. S., Abrutyn, S., Pescosolido, B., & Diefendorf, S. (2021). The Social Roots of Suicide: Theorizing How the External Social World Matters to Suicide and Suicide Prevention. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.621569
Oexle, N., Ajdacic-Gross, V., Kilian, R., Müller, M., Rodgers, S., Xu, Z., … Rüsch, N. (2017). Mental illness stigma, secrecy and suicidal ideation. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796015001018
Prayogi, A. (2023). Social Change in Conflict Theory: A Descriptive Study. ARRUS Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.35877/soshum1652
Rizka, A. (2020). Kasus Bunuh Diri Siswa SMP, Depresi, dan Media Sosial yang Membuatnya Kompleks. Retrieved from https://mojok.co/pojokan/kasus-bunuh-diri-siswa-smp-depresi-dan-media-sosial-yang-membuatnya-kompleks/
Shamsaei, F., Yaghmaei, S., & Haghighi, M. (2020). Exploring the lived experiences of the suicide attempt survivors: a phenomenological approach. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2020.1745478
Staubmann, H. (2021). C. Wright Mills’ The Sociological Imagination and the Construction of Talcott Parsons as a Conservative Grand Theorist. American Sociologist, 52(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-020-09463-z
Swastiningrum, I. (2025). Kasus Molly dan Ketika Media Sosial Jadi Penyebab Depresi Anak. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://tirto.id/kasus-molly-dan-ketika-media-sosial-jadi-penyebab-depresi-anak-dfdv
Synder, H. (2021). “Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines.” Journal of Business Research, 104.
The Guardian – International Edition. (2025). Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/international
Wenz, F. V. (1978). Multiple Suicide Attempts and Informal Labeling: An Exploratory Study. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1943-278X.1978.tb01079.x
WHO, W. H. O. (2023). Suicide in the world: Global Health Estimates. World Health Organization,Geneva.
Wikipedia Contributors. (2023). Suicide of Rehtaeh Parsons. Retrieved June 29, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Rehtaeh_Parsons
World Health Organization. (2019). Suicide worldwide in 2019: Global Health Estimates. World Health Organization,Geneva.
Wray, M., Colen, C., & Pescosolido, B. (2011). The sociology of suicide. Annual Review of Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-081309-150058
Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2019). Guidance on Conducting a Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X17723971
Published
2025-07-03
How to Cite
Alimin Alwi. (2025). Suicide in Sociological Perspective: From Classical, Modern to Postmodern Views. International Journal of Education, Vocational and Social Science , 4(03), 371-382. https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v4i03.2003
Contact Person +6282139474255
Email : ijevss@citakonsultindo.or.id / editor.ijevss@gmail.com
