Introduction
Suicide is one of the most debated social issues across the globe. Though various views have been raised about the different reasons why people commit suicide, no specific reason has been suggested and empirically verified. Despite that sociologists are not in particular interested in the reasons why people commit suicide; its ultimate causes lie in social matters. On the other hand, sociologists are rather interested in social forces and attribute that trigger individual to attempt some unusual social behaviors like committing suicide among others.
Statement of the Problem
It has been revealed that there is a very significant relationship between suicide and social life aspects, rendering suicidal acts to be partly incorporated in many social matters. Many scholars have argued that suicide is both a social and psychological act among individuals. Meanwhile, it has not been clearly differentiated the exact cause of suicide among individuals between psychological and social factors.
Social Aspects of Suicide
According to Haaland Schaefer (2011), suicide is closely related to group life, in which failure to conform to certain social life aspects may set off individuals to commit suicide. This forms a basis for how people should understand each other in social contexts, and subsequently treat each other fairly. As reported by Hawthorn (2009), many people in society consider people who commit suicide as being insane. Though this myth may prevail in most social contexts, the truth remains that many people who commit suicide have serious social problems in their lives but not necessarily being mentally sick. With the rise of communism, individuals tend to act as groups. When an individual incurs interpersonal losses like a socio-economic crisis, they may tend to consider their life as being of lower rank compared to those of other people, which may subsequently set off such individuals to commit suicide. As a result, it is quite important for individuals to understand each other to enhance co-existence in a social context.
Further, Bertolote & Leo (2004) suggests that the perception individuals will have toward others is one of the major causes of social inferiority, which subsequently makes them attempt suicide. It is important to note that, some people usually perceive themselves as genetically inferior to their colleagues. As a result, such individuals consider their genetic make against their wishes and anticipate modifying their bodies through cosmetic surgery. When such artificial practices fail or even lead to more severe conditions, the individuals consider themselves misfits of society which may deem them consider commit suicide (Haaland Schaefer, 2011). On this basis, suicide seems more related to social life rather than only to individualized personalities and perceptions of being inferior with respect to other people.
Further, Hawthorn (2009) argues on the perception of individuals as being naïve or unable to perform sufficiently normal social activities is a factor leading to committing suicide among the people. In this argument, such individuals start perceiving themselves as being unworthy and guilty, resulting in the eventual development of depression conditions which subsequently trigger such people to commit suicide. Though repeated thinking of the individual’s undeserving position results in the consequent development of long-range mental disturbances, the root cause of such conditions is strongly embedded in their social life.
Psychological Aspects of Suicide
According to Haaland Schaefer (2011), prolonged deep thinking of social inferiority such as intrapsychic cause of major depression, psychiatrists are ultimately the remedy to such situations. Particularly, psychological incapacities among people are a potential cause of suicide once the condition grows deep in their mind, then subsequent suicide committing will result. With regard to Bertolote & Leo (2004), an unsuccessful ambition for self-actualization among individuals is considered one of the causes of suicide. Social life is ultimately considered one of the most powerful determinants of how thoughts of committing suicide emerge. Alienations in relationships disturb social emotions, which may make an individual consider committing suicide to avoid any further interaction with his/her colleague. Quite importantly, the development of major depression among such individuals results in their consideration of committing suicide.
Meanwhile, some people may make suicide threats to draw the attention of society. As Haaland Schaefer (2011) notes, the development of suicidal ideas among individuals may be attributed to social profiling or being poorly understood by other people. It has been a common myth that people who make serious suicidal threats are only in pursuit of social attention and care. When such people are socially incorporated into social systems, they end up conforming back to their lives as if they were not planning any suicide act. According to Hawthorn (2009), the feeling of committing suicide is just a semi-permanent state of the mind, which can be easily erased through social skills.
Conclusion
Generally, suicide has been revealed as a serious act among people who may feel unfit or unable to conform to the standards of society. Though suicide acts may be considered personal attributes, their cause roots deeply in social aspects of life. More specifically, the ultimate cause of suicide is largely based on social factors other than only individuals’ minds. Particularly, social disturbances have been revealed as one of the most significant causes of mental ailments which may trigger an individual to commit suicide. On this basis, social interests and beliefs form the utmost realm of suicidal attempts among individuals.
References
Bertolote, J & Leo, D. (2004). Psychiatric Diagnoses and Suicide: Revisiting the Evidence. Crisis, 25(4): 147-155.
Haaland, B. Schaefer, R. (2011). Sociology: A Brief Introduction. Illinois: Kijiji International Limited.
Hawthorn, K. (2009). Suicide. Lancet, 373(96): 1372-1381.