In my thirty-one year career as a high school teacher, I was privy to several teenage suicides and, within my family, to the death by suicide of a recently married young man. Several years after my retirement I happened to meet the mother of a young student who, twenty years earlier, had taken his own life. Now divorced and remarried, the first subject the mother broached was whether I had seen any signs to help explain her son’s death. People want to know the 'why' and she obviously needed some postvention.
In an unpublished book to his patients, Trapped in the Web of Life and How to Get Free, Windsor psychiatrist, Dr. W. J. Cassidy, B.A., M.D., F.R.C.P. (C), and former head of the psychiatric unit at Hotel Dieu-Grace hospital in Windsor, pointed out that “a psychological trap consists of distressing emotions associated with defective thinking on the one hand and self-defeating behavior on the other”. Then he went on to say that “when you live from the heart and feel only pain, then you must lead with your mind until life seems right again,” The challenge, of course, is for interventionists and therapists to convey this to those at risk.
So what were these suicidal victims thinking? Were they tired of being alive? Was death a solution, a way out of a problem? Could they just not imagine living their whole remaining life the way it was? Did they lack hope? Were they feeling isolated, maybe guilty for something? Was there substance abuse or bullying involved? Did they not have a faith? Different theorists have produced varying reasons and uncovered general patterns. Consider the following scenario.
Experts Discuss a Death by Suicide
A man named Michael has been found dead. It is being called a suicide. Detective Patrick O'Reilly has been put in charge of the case. Three experts have been summoned to a meeting with detective O'Reilly, and meet each other outside of detective O'Reilly's office.
The first expert, Emilia speaks out loud about the suicide, "So, when do they think this man, I think his name was Michael, committed suicide?”
Karl, another of the experts replies: “Apparently last night. At least, that's what I've heard.”
The third expert, Maxine interjects: “Do either of you know what he was like?”
“Well, apparently he was middle aged, divorced, a supervisor in a large manufacturing company, and not wealthy, but certainly not poor,” says Emilia.”
“Hmm… I wonder why he would kill himself?” mutters Maxine.
“Well, maybe it would help if we would see Michael's suicide as part of a larger pattern,” opines Emilia, sounding like the sociologist she is.
“What do you mean?” asks Karl.
Emilia continues. “What I mean is that Michael’s suicide is part of dozens of suicides committed by men like him. The suicide rate for men his age who are not married but are employed is a reflection of their integration or lack of integration into a larger society.
“Are you saying this could have been anticipated?” queries Maxine
“Well, let me finish,” says Emilia. “Another contributing factor might be the rapid changes our society is currently undergoing.”
“So what?” spits Karl.
“Let me finish,” pleads Emilia. “This rapid change gives rise to a condition that a relative of mine used to call anome, a situation where we no longer know what norms apply to our behavior. As the social order breaks down, individuals feel confused and alienated. They also lack `orientation’. As a result, the suicide rate goes up.
“Wait a minute!" exclaims an obviously perturbed Karl. “To call this man a victim of social change is far-fetched, especially when it is entirely likely his death is caused by a lack of social change in our society.”
“Oh come on!” Emilia spits back.
“Really!” insists Karl. “The real cause of his death, as with many forms of deviant behavior, can be found in the oppression and domination that form the basis for our society. Alienated from his work, forced by economic necessity to engage in activities over which he has no control, and without hope of any real change in the future, suicide must have seemed like his only escape. His death is the ultimate alienation from society.”
“You sound like a communist!” opines Maxine.
Suddenly Detective Patrick O'Reilly appears.
“Good morning everyone. Could I speak to Maxine Weber?”
Maxine and Detective O'Reilly enter the office.
“Have a seat, Ms. Weber… coffee… doughnut?” asks O'Reilly.
“No thanks,” Maxine replies.
“Ms. Weber, I'm trying to find a motive for this death and I hope you can shed some light on the matter. What are you views?”
“Certainly different than the pair outside this door…”
“Hmm… Okay. Let's hear your views. Mind if I record it?”
“No I don't mind… Detective, if we are going to understand Michael’s suicide…”
“You know his name?”
“Yes, I heard people around here using his name. As I was saying, if we want to understand why Michael committed suicide, we have to understand what he meant by it. What did he think he was doing? What were his motives?”
“Motives…! That's what I'm after.”
“Yes, what were his motives? Furthermore, was he trying to say anything to those close to him? His wife…? His children…? His co-workers and bosses…?
“Good questions.”
“Another question we should ask is why has this death been called a suicide?”
“The coroner called it that!”
“Fine, but what were the coroner's standards, and what is the social impact of this bit of laboring on Michael's friends and associates?”
“Ah, come on Ms. Weber! I'm interested in motives, not impacts! Let the social workers worry about social consequences.”
“Well, these are the questions we have to ask if we are going to understand suicide. After all, Michael’s death is more than just a social problem, or a social issue! His is a death of a real, live flesh and blood human being.”
“Okay, Ms. Weber, the point is made. Thanks for coming in, and can I call on you in court?
“Certainly...”
“By the way, do the fellows outside agree with your perspective?”
“Ask them yourself.”
“I will! Do they have famous relatives as well?”
Identification of the Famous Relatives
Who were these famous pseudo-relatives? They were the three famous theorists, Karl Marx, Émile Durkhein and Max Weber. Karl Marx’s ideas could best be described as conflict theory: the conflicts between social institutions. French sociologist Émile Durkheim believed in structural functionalism: that behavior was determined by social expectations. Finally, Max Weber focused on systems theory: interactions.
James Gibson - James Gibson is a retired teacher and small business owner. He is a published writer and has a wide spectrum of interests.
Join the Conversation