Emile Durkheim's View Of Suicide Bombing

Suicide bombing is a sensitive topic to discuss, yet I will attempt to explain suicide bombings through the verstehen approach; the bomber’s perspective. This essay will explore Durkheim’s view of suicide and how it relates to our subject. In addition, we will look how suicide bombings are excused under Islamic religion and the conditions in Palestinian homelands that may promote jihad.
Before an individual can understand through the eyes of the bomber, he/she should first comprehend Emile Durkheim’s suicide theory. Durkheim claimed suicide was driven by certain social causes; he labeled these causes social integration and social regulation. Referring to the text, Durkheim stated, “Social integration involves individuals voluntarily attaching …show more content…
These people feel helpless and/or alone, so due to those feelings of inadequacy he/she commits suicide. An example, provided by Durkheim, suggested unmarried individuals are more apt than married individuals to commit this type of suicide, because they do not receive the needed support, love, and/or affection from a spouse during desperate times. Though low social integration can be dangerous to one’s health, so can too much. The polar opposite result of too little social integration would be altruistic suicide, where an individual is more integrated into their society than is normal. Altruistic suicide is committed for the value of another person or group. This type of suicide is directly cognate to the essay’s topic, suicide bombers, but to give an example that is more accepting to a Western society, would be a Marine covering a grenade with one’s body to save his/her platoon in combat. It is good to note that altruistic suicide occurs when group acceptance is more valuable than self-worth and a promise of admiration or prestige is fact when voluntarily taking one’s life. Such example, a Medal of Honor awarded to the Marine, or heavenly treasures awarded to the