Free Essay

Suicide a Social Perspective

In:

Submitted By caraliam
Words 399
Pages 2
WEEKLY JOURNAL – 4TH DECEMBER,2010

I had been very much looking forward to tonight’s session. My chapter review was ready and my journal was somewhat legible for once, and I felt that it was about time I shared with my fellow classmates. I knew I would be asked to share my chapter review and was happy enough to do so. When Norah invited me to share the chapter review, it was as if she was asking me to dance naked around the room. I felt somewhat exposed and somewhat at the mercy of my audience. As I was reading through my work, my feelings noticeably changed to embarrassment, as I felt people were actually listening to what I was saying and that they would relate to and understand my comments. When I finished and the reaction was positive, I just could not resist the temptation to go on and read my journal. This was the ‘Tonight Show’ with Liam, and Liam was loving it. I found the other chapter review readings very interesting and stimulating. It was like peeping through a keyhole into another room that would soon be open to me.
After break we were asked to remove a shoe and place it in the middle of the room. This did cause me to feel somewhat disabled but this feeling was tempered by the fact that we were all in the same boat. When my shoe was picked up by someone, I was dreading the comments that were about to be delivered. I need not have worried. Thanks Mary! Next up Norah produced a box of stones and we all had to take a stone and reflect on someone or something that made us unhappy during the year that we wanted to banish from our world. I found this exercise very therapeutic. The physical exercise of throwing the stone away was a very powerful action for me and for my classmates as well by all appearances. We proceeded to light a candle afterwards for thanks to those who helped us through our bad times and acknowledged their friendship. It was a truly lovely way to end the year and certainly put me in fine spirits as I headed off for my Christmas break enthused about the journey I have embarked upon and very excited about continuing on my journey in the New Year with my new friends.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Bibliography

...is, by societal control. Society forces limits on human cravings and constitutes "a regulative power [which] must assume the same part for good needs which the life form plays for physical needs." In all around directed social orders, social controls set breaking points on individual inclinations so that "every in his circle ambiguously understands as far as possible on individual affinities so that "every in his circle enigmatically understands as far as possible set to his aspirations and tries to nothing past. . . . In this manner, an end or an objective is set to the interests." At the point when social regulations separate, the controlling impact of society on individual affinities is no more viable and people are left to their own gadgets. Such a situation Durkheim calls anomie, a tern that alludes to a state of relative normlessness in an entire society or in some of its part bunches. Anomie does not allude to a perspective, but rather to a social's property structure. It portrays a condition in which individual cravings are no more directed by basic standards and where, as an outcome, people are left without good direction in the quest for their objectives. Albeit complete anomie, or aggregate normlessness, is experimentally outlandish, social orders may be portrayed by more noteworthy or lesser degrees of...

Words: 1764 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

The Sociological Imagination

...Imagination’ and Durkheim’s Sociological Perspective on suicide. I will do this by using two texts, ‘Sociology in Today’s World’, chapter one ‘The Sociological Compass’ (Furze, B. Savy, P. Brym, R.J, Lie, J. 2012) and ‘The Sociological Imagination’ chapter one ‘The Promise’, (C. Wright Mills). C. Wright Mills wrote a book in 1959 called ‘The Sociological Imagination”. Mills coined the term Sociological Imagination and it has since been used as a very influential and relevant term in terms of helping to define what sociology actually is. It is also seen as a method in which sociologists use to interpret information. He writes “The sociological imagination enables its possessor to understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals” (C. W. Mills. 2005). Mills begins the relevant chapter by giving a summary of what he believes is a rapid fast changing world. “Men” being left behind in their old ways, becoming overwhelmed at the abrupt and tremendous revolutions that occurred - changing society forever. The following statement is his description of this, “In what period have so many men been so totally exposed at so fast a pace to such earthquake of change?” (C.W.Mills pg. 12. 2005). It is this that led Mills to define the sociological imagination as being able to see the relationship between the ordinary lives of people and the wider social factors and influences that affect them. ...

Words: 1118 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Sociological Perspectives

...Sociological Theorists Emile Durkheim was a pioneer in sociology; his major focus was on social structure. He insisted, “Behavior must be understood within a larger social context, not just in individualistic terms” (Schaefer, 10). According to him the most important thing in life is a sense of belonging. The opposite of which is anomie- a feeling of isolation and loneliness. He would argue these are the worst things in life. Social attachments to others are important to avoid anomie. For example, religion reinforces a group’s solidarity because it is a form of group behavior (Schaefer, 10). Durkheim believed the industrial revolution caused anomie due to a change of pace in life. People became busy, and as a result there were less meaningful interactions. He believed modern capitalism caused anomie, and people who are unable to cope may resort to taking their own lives (Schaefer, 10). Therefore, he advocated the creation of social groups between the family and the state to provide a sense of belonging for members of a society (Schaefer, 10). Durkheim is linked to the structural functionalist perspective. Its main focus is on how people and institutions serve as a function. As long as every person and institution does this, there will be order and stability within society. This leads back to his idea that behavior cannot be understood in individualistic terms, but within a larger social context. He believed that anomie could be avoided by creating a sense of belonging between...

Words: 1499 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Social Media Influence On Suicide

...internet and social media can influence suicide- related behavior. Suicide is a public health problem; more than 30,000 suicide deaths in United States and nearly 1 million of suicide deaths occur every year. Researchers are interested in whether the internet in general primarily helps or hinders suicide prevention. Nobody not sure how the internet and social media can relate to suicide behavior. They are trying to figure that issue out by debating the issue. They discuss the role of social media in suicide-related behavior and shape the issue from a public health perspective. Researchers discuss ways that social media can have a negative influence on suicide-related behavior and they analyze the evidence of this influence. They then provide example of how social media can be used in the prevention of suicide. Researchers talk about the legal complication of how important this topic and the future direction for research and prevention programs that are based on public health perspective. The researchers look up on website about suicide terms and information on suicide methods. Studies hits 373 web site, 31% were suicide neutral, 29% were...

Words: 575 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Sociology Intro

...Social Science i.e Psychology, history, political science, anthropology, Economics: sustains capitalism – 70% Systematic study of human society • Point of view known as “the sociological perspective” • Sociologist Peter Berger describes the sociological perspective as: seeing general in the particular or looking at the familiar in the strange. • Individuals are unique, but society shapes the lives of people. (Rich, poor, genders, executives, and faculty. • Sociological perspectives can show us patterns -of clothes people decide to wear. • By examining patterns scientifically we can predict human behavior and understand how society guides and shapes our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. : People’s attitudes and behaviors in the contexts of social forces and institutional arrangements that shape men. C.Mills Wright sociologist developed this concept • Focused how change in society experts direct profound influences on people living in it. - In this “Great Recession” - Not because of the individual or society inability to provide jobs - Do to outsourcing Emile Durkheim, early sociologist that studied suicide - Showed evidence of social forces where responsible for why people kill themselves • In late 19th century, Durkheim examined official records in various European countries - Found that some categories of people were more likely than others to take their lives. - Durkheim invented way to show evidence: men, wealthy...

Words: 641 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Fnfjfjkf

...fashion across cultures C. the people who make our clothing D. pirating in the fashion industry Answer: C Type: I 2. The scientific study of social behavior and human groups is known as A. psychology. B. political science. C. anthropology. D. sociology. Answer: D Type: D 3. Sociology A. is the scientific study of social behavior and human groups. B. focuses primarily on how social relationships influence people’s behavior. C. focuses on how societies develop and change. D. all of these Answer: D Type: D 4. The awareness that allows people to comprehend the link between their immediate, personal social settings and the remote, impersonal social world is called A. the sociological imagination. B. anthropology. C. a theory. D. verstehen. Answer: A Type: D 5. ____________ is most closely associated with the concept of the sociological imagination. A. Émile Durkheim B. Max Weber C. Karl Marx D. C. Wright Mills Answer: D Type: S 6. A key element in the sociological imagination is the ability to view one’s own society A. from the perspective of personal experience. B. from the perspective of cultural biases. C. as an outsider. D. as an insider. Answer: C Type: I 7. A sociologist observing behavior at a college football game...

Words: 4557 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Sociology

...thinking to de-familiarise common sense assumptions about social life while discussing specific terms such as the sociological imagination, empirical data and the social theory. This essay draws upon the issue of suicide among males living in remote Australian areas as a broad social issue apposed to being a private trouble of the individual. We tend to view certain experiences in our lives as a single private issue. However, this trouble can be viewed as a wider social problem. The sociological imagination is a sociological perspective which observes the world in a critical way and makes clear links between the private problems of the individual and important social issues (Scott & Marshall 2008). Anthony Giddens (1986:13) argues that there are three forms of sensibility that together make up the sociological imagination, these include; historical, anthropological insight and critical thinking. Sociologists use critical thinking to debunk every day common sense assumptions about human behaviour and social life (Mills 1959:2). For example; suicide among males in Australia may be viewed as a private problem of the individual. However, a high percentage of these males live in remote areas compared to those who live in major cities (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011, Australian Social Trends, Cat. No. 4102.0, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra), which in fact suggests that this issue in fact is a wider social issue. Sociologists ask the question why and attempt to...

Words: 633 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Assess Different Sociological Explanations of Suicide

...different sociological explanations of suicide The study of suicide has a unique place in sociology because it was the subject that Durkheim chose to use in order to demonstrate that sociology had its own distinctive contribution to understanding human behaviour. Early Positivists such as Comte and Durkheim argued that sociology was a science therefore they believed that its studies should mirror that of the natural sciences. They advocated scientific and logical methods in order to find law like generalizable patterns and cause & effect relationships. New Positivists aim to develop their theories, whereas Interpretivists sought to abolish this they criticise this theory as such methods are at the expense of actors individual meanings Durkheim suggested that suicide was a social fact. Features of a social facts are that they are external and greater than the individual, they constraint their behaviour therefore shaping the way they act. He argued that factors e.g. climate had no effect on suicide rates. He also claimed that psychological theories were inadequate as he rejects the views that only psychological factors can explain the differences in suicide rates taking the macro structuralist approach. In order to show evidence of his theory Durkheim studied the suicide rates of Catholics and Protestants in the 19th century he found that suicide rates remained constants and rates varied between different groups. He measured social integration and moral regulation claiming...

Words: 982 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Paradox of Suicide

..._ Instructor: Tai Woo Recently, the matter of suicide has come up in several conversations and throughout a media. Yet, the question as to why people commit suicide remains controversial and boundless. There are twice as many suicides in the U.S each year than homicide. After listening to the intrigue podcast “The Paradox of Suicide”, I have developed some thoughts and some new understanding about suicide. So the first thing I ask myself when I think of suicide is why do people do it? This seems to be the question on everyone’s mind. It is extremely hard for me to understand how something can drive a person to a state of mind where they outweigh the value of living. What has pushed them to the limit where the only solution to relieve themselves of the pain is to kill themselves? In the podcast, they interview college professor Dante Everest who has travelled to a tribe in the Amazon jungle to learn more about how people there take on suicide. After Dante tells about his mother’s suicide and explain how it made a huge impact on him to the people of the tribe, they burst to laugh and feel as if the concept of a person voluntarily killing themselves is lubricous and unheard of. It is hard not to compare the tribe in the amazon that has a zero suicide rate, to the U.S which has a 35,500 suicide rate each year. So the next thing comes to my mind is why? Why does the community in the small Amazonian tribe have a zero tolerance for suicide? The people of the tribe have explained that...

Words: 890 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Cda Compentency

...Social Construction of Reality: Meaning- What you know to be real is real because you were taught to believe it. 1. Social Psychology 2. Symbolist Interactionism Scientific Methods: 1. Observation 2. Generalization 3. Interpretation 4. Prediction Science: 1. Systematic Observation 2. Measurement Sociological Perspective: 1. Questions can be answered through observation Natural Science vs. Social Science: 1. Natural Science= Biology/ Hard Science 2. Social Science= Psychology/ Soft Science Theory: 1. A set of ideas used to explain cause and effect. Reactivity or the Hawthorn Effect: 1. If you know someone is watching you, you will always act differently. Sociological Imagination: By C. Wright Mills 1. We as researchers need to use our imagination to come up with creative ways to study human behavior. Institution: 1. An excepted way of doing things 5 Major Social Institutions: 1. Family 2. Religion 3. Healthcare 4. Economics 5. Education Founders of Sociology: 1. August Comte- Positive thinker - Comedern Sociology - Social Force - Social Statics- The force of cooperation and cohesion (Togetherness) - Social Dynamics- The forces of conflict and change Karl Marx: - Negative thinker father of communism Communism- There is no rich and no poor everyone is equal 1. 1800’s Germany 2. Industrial Revolution 3. Father of Communism 4. Wrote the communist manifesto along with Frederick Engles 5. Father of conflict theory - Rich...

Words: 545 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Developing New Policies: Policy Proposal

...Policy Proposal Suicide Prevention Week Eight N. De Shields Instructor Dr. Yasmin Dada-Jones ABSTRACT This policy proposal attempts to abate the increasing number of suicides in the United States, a survey from 2001 to 2009 list fatal self-injuries span world-wide demographics, male and female, age, ethnic disparity and economic disposition. From 1999 to 2007 the number of suicides in the United States increased from 10.46 to 11.26 per 100,000 people, between ages 10 to 24 it is the 3rd leading cause of death, 2nd leading cause in 24 to 35 year olds and the 10th from all age groups. Globally one in every 40 seconds, 800,000 a year, suicide is absolutely preventable, these are not accidents and 90% sought treatment for mental health prior. Thoughts and ideation are higher among young adults’ ages 18 to 25 years where the greatest attempts are made; among 18 and older 8.3 million report having suicidal thoughts, 2.2 million made plans, 1 in every 25 succeed in committing suicide. Between the ages 15 to 24 years old 100 to 200 attempts are made, 500,000 in the United States seek help in emergency rooms; an estimated 6.5 billion in non-fata, self-inflicted medical cost. The initiative seeks to apply ecological approaches normally dedicated to specialized populations; the approach will intrinsically identify suicide victims through venues and or genres. Public suicide prevention efforts could encompass and engage participants via screening an entire social demographic and...

Words: 4225 - Pages: 17

Free Essay

Cross-Cultural Perspectives

...became an issue in the organization. Also an analysis of the ethical and social responsibility issues Foxconn dealt with as a result of being global. Lastly the paper will identify the ethical perspectives, compare the perspectives across cultures involved, and describe a viable solution for the issue that was deemed acceptable to all stakeholders. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., trading as Foxconn Technology Group (forbes.com) is an electronic company based in Taiwan was founded in 1974. It is the world's largest electronics contractor manufacturer, and the third-largest information technology company. Foxconn is predominantly a contract manufacturer who is also known as a made to order manufacturer. Their clients include American, European and Japanese electronics and information technology companies. Products invented by this company are BlackBerry, iPad, iPhone, Kindle, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Wii. The cultural issue that affected Foxconn’s interactions outside of the United States is the controversies that plagued the company in concern to how it manages employees in China. There has been a history of suicides in its factories blamed on working conditions. In January 2012, about 150 Foxconn employees threatened to commit mass-suicide in protest at their working conditions (cnet.com) The exact number is not really known, but at least 13 workers committed or attempted suicide at several of Foxconn’s production facilities between January and May in...

Words: 816 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Conflict Views On Cyber Bullying

...My social issue: Cyber bullying The social issue in Brevard that I am going to be talking about is cyberbulling. Cyberbullying is when a person, typically children 8-18, are harassed, threatened, humiliated, or targeted over the internet. This has become relatively common with the advances of technology. Cyberbullying probably commenced in the mid 90's when internet use became typical. Cyberbullying and face to face bullying are very contrastive. For instance when a cyberbully releases something slanderous into the world wide web, they have an audience possibly the whole world. In addition it is very difficult, if not impossible, to delete and completely remove anything from the internet. Another difference between a cyberbully and a face...

Words: 1023 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Cj 133

...CJ133 April 3, 2011 Questions For Reflection 1. This book emphasizes a social problems versus social responsibility theme. Describe both perspectives. How might social policy decisions based on these perspectives vary? Social problems is a what people believe that the person that commits crime comes from a troubled home with violence or that lives in poverty and such social problems. Social responsibility is the believe that the person that commits a crime is because that person chooses to commit the crime. Social policy might help in a way to help those that commit crime that come from poverty or that live in a violent place like the ghetto or have family violence. But towards social responsibility there might not be much that a person can do because they choose to do crime than be a law abiding citizen. 2. Do you think you might want to become a criminologist? Why or Why not? At the moment maybe not because I have had a plan of becoming a police officer and from there going up to a detective. 3. What do crimes such as doctor-assisted suicide tell us about the nature of the law and about crime in general? Do you believe that doctor-assisted suicide should be legalized? Why or why not? I think that doctor assisted crimes are just saying if the person leaves a note saying that they wanted to die and they wanted assistance that the other person has no responsibility on being called a murderer. So a person that kills a person can make a note and be free...

Words: 413 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Importance of Sociology

...at the world provides a number of unique benefits and perspectives. Sociology provides an understanding of social issues and patterns of behavior. It helps us identify the social rules that govern our lives. Sociologists study how these rules are created, maintained, changed, passed between generations, and shared between people living in various parts of the world. They also study what happens when these rules are broken. Sociology helps us understand the workings of the social systems within which we live our lives. Sociologists put our interactions with others into a social context. This means they look not only at behaviors and relationships, but also how the larger world we live in influences these things. Social structures (the way society is organized around the regulated ways people interrelate and organize social life) and social processes (the way society operates) are at work shaping our lives in ways that often go unrecognized. Because of this perspective, sociologists will often say that, as individuals, we are social products. Even though we recognize their existence, these structures and processes may “appear to people in the course of daily life as through a mysterious fog” (Lemert 2001, 6). Sociologists strive to bring these things out of the fog, to reveal and study them, and to examine and explain their interrelationships and their impacts on individuals and groups. By describing and explaining these social arrangements and how they shape our lives, sociologists...

Words: 1056 - Pages: 5