Citation

Gibbs JP, Martin WT. Am. J. Sociol. 1959; 64(6): 585-591.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1959, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/222593

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The theory of status integration, a further development of Durkheim's work on social integration provides a quantitative measure which makes it possible to test the following theorem: The suicide rate of a population varies inversely with the degree of status integration. This was tested in ethnic groups and provinces in Ceylon. The support provided for the theorem raises questions about the utility of the concept of culture in explaining variations in suicide rates. It also indicates that suicide rates in Ceylon conform to Durkheim's "egoistic" model rather than the "altruistic."