Le Suicide (Suicide)

"Le Suicide" is a seminal work by French sociologist Émile Durkheim, published in 1897. It examines the social factors contributing to suicide, challenging the notion that it is purely an individual act. Durkheim categorizes suicide into types based on social integration and regulation: egoistic (due to weak social ties), altruistic (excessive integration), anomic (lack of social regulation), and fatalistic (excessive regulation). His research highlights how societal conditions, norms, and values significantly influence personal actions, emphasizing that understanding suicide requires a broader social perspective. This work laid the foundation for modern sociology and the study of mental health.