Functionalism & Suicide

Functionalism & Suicide • Principles of Functionalism • Functionalist Interpretations of Crime & Deviance • Durkheimian theories of suicide • Other functionalist theories of deviance

Principles of Functionalism • Society & the body analogy • Manifest & latent functions • Social equilibrium vs. dysfunction

Deviance is functional: the minority view • Deviance creates social solidarity by mobilizing public sentiment (I.e. Mount Cashel) • Reactions to deviance help clarify morally ambiguous behaviors (I.e. sexual harrassment) • Punishment of deviants allows conformists to feel morally superior • Deviance can lead to social progress • Minor deviance acts as a ‘safety valve’

Deviance is dysfunctional: the majority view • Crime & deviance occurs when social equilibrium does not exist • Ex. Suicide as dysfunctional – Canadian stats

Durkheimian theories of suicide • Durkheim’s original theory based on 26,000 suicides • Three patterns of suicide: • 1. Egoistic • 2. Anomic • 3. altruistic

Egoistic Suicide • Men • Urban dwellers • Officers • Single or divorced • Protestants • Common condition? • Weak social integration

Anomic Suicide • Occur during periods of rapid social change • Ex: economic booms & busts • Cultural change

Altruistic Suicide • Caused by excessive social integration • Suicidal person loses own sense of ego • Person is willing to sacrifice him/her self for some greater cause

Examples of Altruistic Suicide • Cult Suicides • Suicide Bombers • Culturally sanctioned suicide

Cult Suicides • Involves charismatic leaders • Cults often recruit ‘disenfranchised’ • Cult is often isolated

Examples of Cult Suicides • David Koresh and the Branch Davidians of Waco Texas

Cult Suicides • Jim Jones & the Jonestown Massacre • Nov.18, 1978 913 people died in Guyana on South America’s northern coast

Cult Suicides • Heaven’s Gate Suicide • M.H. Applewhite

Suicide Bombers • Individuals who sacrifice themselves for religious or political cause • Often enjoy support of their community • Examples: Palestinian bombers; Tamil Tigers; Kamikazee pilots

Suicide Bombers • 911 Ringleader Mohamed Atta • Planner of the 19 man hijacking gang • “You have to remind yourself to listen and obey that night, for you will face situations that require your obedience 100%” – letter to fellow highjackers

Suicide Bombers • From a handwritten letter found in Atta’s luggage: • “Purify your heart and forget something called life, for the time of play is gone and the time of truth has come. God will absolve you of your sins, and be assured that it will be only moments and then you will attain the greatest reward. Check your bag, clothes, knives, tools ID, passport…Let each find his blade for the prey…..

Suicide Bombers • “As soon as you put your feet in and before you enter the plane start praying and realize that this is a battle for the sake of God, and when you sit in your seat say these prayers that we had mentioned before. When the plane starts moving, then you are travelling toward God and what a blessing that travel is.”

Culturally sanctioned suicide • Suttee in India • Elder suicide among the Inuit

Homicide-suicide • Dominant themes • Frustrated long-term relationships • Extreme ambivalence – anger/love • Morbid jealousy • Triggered by separation • Severe depression • Self-blame

Other Forms of Suicide • Assisted Suicide (legal in Oregon & some European countries) • Suicide by Cop

Functionalism & Suicide