In my research of suicide statistics I was shocked and saddened to find that suicide ranks number five as the cause of death among the age group of the ages of twenty-five and forty-four in the United States. Even more alarming is it is the ninth cause of death in the entire United States. (Cutchin, 1999) Suicide in the United States, according to Social Scientist Quarterly, would fall into the category of the Interpretive, Symbolic-Interaction Approach. The studies show many statistics, reasons, and variables that are continually changing have shaped the answers to studies they have researched.
In another article, more research fits into the Social-Conflict Approach in many instances the cause of suicide stem from common everyday problems that life is all about; job loss, relationship breakup, illness in the family and other major changes that are hard for most to deal with, and those who cannot accept them resort to suicide. In the teenage years, there is pressure of not being able to measure up to others expectations, or they are not accepted by their peers is another instance of a high suicide rate in that age group. There is possible help through therapy for those who feel hopeless, yet some refuse to ask for help, or refuse help feeling they can deal with problems on their own, until they give in to their feeling of hopelessness. (Yaniv, 2001)
Sociologists explain suicide as being a very personal choice, one that for some it is a statement of their lives. (Stack, 1994) If we are to learn about suicide as having an absolute answer, then we would be able to prevent it. Since there are so many different reasons, so many different people that commit suicide there may never be an absolute answer. This in an opinion in another article that represents The Social-Conflict Approach.
Each of the articles used in doing research dealing with the study of suicide, two of which used the Social-Conflict approach. All of them considered Macro-level. It says that Social-Conflict is the study has the most validity to it. Meaning suicide has more to do with social issues than any other. Though in stating that teenagers are more susceptible to peer pressure, and more apt to commit suicide because of this.
Read also:
What are Emile Durkheims four Types of Suicide
References
Cutchin, M. P. (1999, March). Social Science Quarterly. Retrieved November 18, 2007, from
Scale, Context, and causes of suicide in the United States *: http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS
Stack, S. &. (1994, Une). Social Forces. Retrieved November 18, 2007, from Psychological
versus sociological perspectives on suicide: a reply to Mauk, Taylor, White, and Allen: http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=AONE
Yaniv, G. (2001, Sept.-Oct.). The Journal of Socio-Economics. Retrieved Novenber 18, 2007,
from Suicide intention and suicide prevention: an economic perspective : http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS
