Citation

Lester D. Crisis Interv. 1971; 3(1): 8-10.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1971, Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

It has been a common notion, since the idea was first introduced by Durkheim (1951), that the more socially integrated an individual is the less likely he is to complete suicide. If we consider the black population of a city, we might predict that the more defined and definite the boundaries between the area of the city in which the white population live, the more socially integrated and socially regulated the population will be. As the dwelling areas of the two populations come to overlap more and more the two populations should become less socially integrated and socially regulated because of the clash of the two cultures. Alternatively, we could point to the probable increase in tensions and frustrations as the two groups come into closer contact through their residence and this increase in tension and frustration might well increase the incidence of suicidal behavior in the populations.

This prediction was tested by examining the rates of completed suicide in a number of cities in the United States and correlating these rates with the extent of residential segregation in those cities. The relationship of the completed suicide rates of cities to the size of their population and to the proportion of non-whites was also examined.

Language: en