Emile Durkheim Social Fact Essay

Émile Durkheim is a French professor who is regarded as one of the most renowned sociologists of our history, as through his study on social facts – a term he himself coined – he has made discoveries on issues such as suicide and what causes people to commit the act (Poole & Germov 2015). The study of social facts is important to learn, as this explains certain occurrences within the society. This essay will analyse the meaning of social facts in accordance to Durkheim’s study, and as well as his claim of the act of suicide as a social fact. Other relevant social facts in Australia such as our adherence to social norms will also be illustrated and explained in a manner that relates to Durkheim’s understanding of society.

Durkheim’s sociological mind enabled him to discern and study

The act of suicide prior to Durkheim’s discovery was seen as simply a disorder solely concerning an individual’s mind and it’s inability to cope with life’s misfortunes such as setbacks, depression, and even bankruptcy (Morrison 2006). However, Durkheim challenged this notion by looking at suicide in a more social context. He believed that people committing suicide had more to do with their integration in the society and the quality and stability of their relationships with people around them (Hassan 1998). The more a person feels acquainted with his/her society and a sense of belonging is felt, then they are less inclined to kill themselves (Poole & Germov 2015). Durkheim also distinguished different kinds of suicide: egoistic, altruistic, anomic and fatalistic. Though the level of integration and regulation varies for each of these kinds, a common denominator in all of them is that they are still caused by external factors such as rapid social change and upheavals, war, and detention centres (Poole & Germov