Egoistic Suicide
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Category 7: Egoistic Suicide
We learned upon the discussion of Durkheims findings on suicide that he argued our society needed an even amount of social integration and social regulation. Social integration brings a society together in hopes of creating a sense of belongingness for its members. However, if society integrates people too much or too little, the possibility of suicide arises. Egoistic suicide in particular, is committed by people who are not strongly supported by membership in a cohesive social group thus making them feel useless and without purpose. An example of this concept can be seen in an article discussing the reasons behind the suicide of 15 year old Amanda Todd, a high school girl who committed suicide because of repeated cyber bullying attacks.
Amanda Todd, a teenager from Vancouver hung herself in her home after years of cyber bullying and physical harm. This came just weeks after her last attempt to find help by posting a YouTube video about her treatment over the last couple of years. Amanda was bullied and blackmailed after she sent a naked photo of herself to a stranger online. After Amanda refused to put on a show for this man he exposed the picture by sending it to her friends and putting it on Facebook. Amanda was then diagnosed with depression and turned herself to drugs and alcohol. After another altercation at a different school, the bullying was too intense and Amanda took her own life. The story of Amanda Todd deeply connects with the concept of egoistic suicide. According to Durkheim, when an individual feels like they have no place in society and become socially isolated then they become destructive towards themselves. This is a prime example of how an individual who is bullied and isolated from their peers has a feeling of emptiness and loneliness. The last card held up by Amanda during her YouTube video stated, “I have nobody, I need someone”.
Category 3: Social Disorganization.
The social disorganization theory was a theory developed by the Chicago School which looked at crime rates related to the neighbourhood you were raised in. Individuals who came from troubled neighbourhoods are more likely to take part in criminal activity because it is seen as an approved way to act. As these young children are exposed to violent behaviour, they are more likely to part take in this act. An example of this can be seen in an article in the Ottawa Ciztizen, as an ex-gang member states that violent behaviour begins at home and the area you are from.
Marc Clarioux was a violent individual who was sent to jail at a young age of 12 after a brutal assault and was back in jail at 18 serving a robbery sentence and at age 22 faced a weapons charge. Clarioux was a member of the Nazi skinhead gang in Ottawa and was part of many crimes to prove racial dominance. Marc stated that where he grew up he witnessed a lot of gang activity and violence. He was raised in a low income housing project in Crystal Beach. After witnessing violence at a young age marc began to act out. His family was forced to move and the violence continued to after that point. He joined the skinhead group while his brother fell into the hells angels.
Marc stated “we grew up seeing violence and we became violent“. This article connects to the concept of social disorganization theory. Marc came from a low income neighbour where he witnessed the effects of gang related crimes. This had a negative influence on his younger years as he got involved with gangs himself. The instability of that part of the city lead to a breakdown of controls between people. This then lead to negative values being transmitted, which then lead to deviant behaviour.
Category 5: Condemning the Condemners.
Matza and Sykes created the Techniques of Neutralization in which they believed delinquents use to justify their illegitimate actions. They argue that these rationalizations come first and are a key factor in making deviant behaviour possible. One technique in particular called condemning the condemners, is a theory based on the belief that the system is corrupt and often points the finger at others and believes that those who are condemning these individuals are doing it based out of spite. An example of this can be seen in a news report by CCN about Jerry Sandusky and how he believes that he was unfairly prosecuted.
Jerry Sandusky was a previous assistant coach for the Penn State Bears who was charged with sexually assaulting and molesting young boys over the course of 15 years. In a letter sent to the judge who would be sentencing Jerry, he pointed the finger at “lying cops, ambitious prosecutors and a scandal hunger news media“. In his letters to the judge he showed no sympathy for the acts he participated in and tried to point the finger at the types of homes these boys came from. He stated that nobody mentioned how these children were neglected, abused and the effect that their real parents had in the matter.
This is directly related to condemning the condemners. Sandusky points the finger at the justice system and how the police were corrupt. He shows no remorse for the actions he part took in and blamed his conviction on Penn State University and the fact that they have an image to uphold. By shifting the blame on other people and institution such as media scandals, it is a textbook example of condemning the condemners
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