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Understanding suicide: a social autopsy

Fincham, Ben, Langer, Susanne, Scourfield, Jonathan and Shiner, Michael (2011) Understanding suicide: a social autopsy. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke. ISBN 9780230580923

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Abstract

Suicide has an important place in the history of sociology, because of Durkheim's famous study and the debates that have followed since it was published more than a century ago. The sociological study of suicide remains a powerful illustration of competing paradigms. The bold aim of this book is to make a new contribution to this classic sociological debate. The authors highlight the importance of qualitatively-driven, mixed methods sociological research on individual suicides, coining the term 'sociological autopsy' to describe their ESRC-funded study of 100 suicide case files. They illustrate how qualitative and quantitative data can be combined; and navigate the dual paradigms of objectivism and constructionism, examining what can be known about suicidal lives and also taking a critical stance on the knowledge itself. Substantive themes developed in the book include the gendered character of suicidal behaviour, the role of the life-course and the importance of social bonds, especially intimate relationships.

Item Type: Book
Official URL: http://www.palgrave.com/
Additional Information: © 2011 The Authors
Divisions: Social Policy
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Date Deposited: 18 Jun 2013 15:05
Last Modified: 15 Sep 2023 21:51
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/50862

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