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A Test of Durkheim's Theory of Suicide in Primitive Societies
Author(s) -
Lester David
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1992.tb00743.x
Subject(s) - test (biology) , suicide rates , psychology , criminology , sociology , social psychology , suicide prevention , psychoanalysis , poison control , medical emergency , medicine , biology , paleontology
Primitive societies were classified as high, moderate, or low on independent measures of social integration and social regulation to test Durkheim's theory of suicide. The estimated frequency of suicide did not differ between those societies predicted to have high, moderate, and low suicide rates. Thus, Durkheim's theory was not confirmed. Possible reasons for these results are discussed.