Q. Describe various characteristics of a ‘social fact’. How is rate of suicide a social fact according to Durkheim?

Model Answer:

Social Facts

Social facts, a concept introduced by Emile Durkheim, are fundamental to sociological understanding. These are collective ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside individual consciousness and exert a coercive force on individuals.

Key characteristics of social facts include:

1. Externality: They exist independently of individual actions or thoughts.
2. Constraint: They exert pressure on individuals to conform.
3. Generality: They are widespread within a society or social group.
4. Objectivity: They can be studied empirically, like natural phenomena.

Durkheim used the rate of suicide as an exemplar of a social fact. He argued that suicide, seemingly a personal act, is influenced by social forces:

• Suicide rates remain relatively stable within societies over time.
• Different societies have consistently different suicide rates.
• Rates vary with social conditions (e.g., economic crises, wars).

Durkheim considered suicide rates a social fact because:

1. They are collective, existing beyond individual cases.
2. They exert an external force on individuals through social conditions.
3. They are measurable and show consistent patterns across groups.
4. They respond to social changes, demonstrating their connection to broader societal forces.

Conclusion:
By analyzing suicide as a social fact, Durkheim illustrated how personal actions are shaped by collective forces, establishing a foundation for sociological inquiry.