Suicide is a sociological phenomenon that plagues societies all over the world. For many of the victims that fall to the pressures of the world, suicide is the method used to end their lives. But what makes them so bold and daring as to commit such a heinous act? Why do those who commit suicide feel that suicide is the only way to end all the pressures that are on their shoulders? According to classical and contemporary social theorists, there exists explanations as to why suicide is an option that individuals choose to exercise when they are feel there is "no way out" of their predicament. Through these theorists, ideas and explanations explaining the social phenomenon of suicide will be illustrated and applied to show comparisons and contrasts of each "schools" view of suicide. It was the classic social theorist Durkheim that made the social concept of suicide famous. Durkheim stated that suicide is a social moral phenomenon that deals with the connection of social ties between a person and society. A person can have either a connection with society that is too loose or too strong. These connections can either be with people and/or with institutions and ideas that exist in society. Either connection can help contribute to an individual committing suicide. According to Durkheim, there are four main components of suicide that are linked to social ties. Egotistic suicide has too loose of a connection between a person and other people and/or institutions in society. There is also a low amount of interaction with others in society (Hurst 2000: 55-56). Common examples of Egotistic suicide can be contributed to low amounts of religious ties, family ties, money, and jobs. All of these factors would help contribute to a high rate of suicide. Altruistic suicide has too much or a too extensive integration into social groups. There becomes a loss of individuality due to too many social ties (Hurst 2000: 55-56).
