Which type of suicide is described as society lacking order?

• A. Egoistic suicide
• B. Fatalistic suicide
• C. Altruistic suicide
• D. Anomic suicide

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is Durkheim’s concept of anomie, or normlessness. When society undergoes rapid change or disruption, the usual rules and expectations lose their clarity, and people feel there is no stable place or purpose within the social order. This breakdown of norms makes individuals feel disconnected and unsure how to behave, which can lead to a sense of meaninglessness and a higher risk of suicide as a response to that disorientation. This is what is meant by anomic suicide.

The other types hinge on different social conditions: egoistic suicide comes from weak social integration—feeling isolated from the group; fatalistic suicide from excessive regulation and oppressive norms; altruistic suicide from too much integration, where personal life is subsumed for the group.