Citation

Skog OJ. Acta Sociol. 1991; 34(3): 193-206.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Scandinavian Sociological Association, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/000169939103400303

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The paper reviews Durkheim's theory of suicide, with particular reference to his treat ment of alcohol as a causal factor. It is argued that Durkheim views alcohol as an individual-level factor, rather than as a socio-cultural factor on a par with other social facts This conception is criticized, as is Durkheim's analysis of his data It is argued that the rate of alcohol abuse in society is a social fact that has an explanatory power beyond the level of individual suicides. Some possible causal links between the social suicide rate and rates of alcohol abuse are discussed. © 1991, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

Language: en