A typology of suicidal behavior is derived using ideas taken from Durkheim & Freud. The typology forms a basis fro an examination of the main lines of interrelationship between the structural & psychological causes of suicide. It is suggested the suicide tending towards the “egoistic” type is more likely to produce attempts not resulting in death; while that tending towards the anomic type is likely to involve actual suicide. Author critical of sociologists’ preoccupation with completed suicide.