What did Emile Durkheim do?

Durkheim did some interesting studies on suicide in relation to sociological perspective.

Durkheim believed that even intensely personal decisions (suicide) were affected by society.

People with strong social ties (Soldiers, City dwellers, Protestants, Singles, Nuclear Families) had lower suicide rates than people with weaker social ties (civilians, country dwellers, Catholics, married, extended families).

This shows us that social ties increases societal pressure which in turn shapes decisions.