Anomie is a social condition characterized by the disintegration of moral values, standards, and guidance for individuals. It often arises from conflicting belief systems, leading to a breakdown of social bonds between individuals and their communities, affecting both economic relationships and primary social interactions. For instance, alienation can escalate into a profound inability to engage in typical social scenarios, such as securing employment or fostering successful relationships.
The term, often interpreted as normlessness, was popularized by French sociologist Émile Durkheim in his seminal works, The Division of Labor in Society (1893) and Suicide (1897). While Durkheim did not explicitly use “normlessness,” he described anomie as a form of “derangement” and an “insatiable will,” referring to the “malady of the infinite,” where unfulfilled desires only intensify. Anomie typically emerges from a dissonance between personal or collective standards and broader societal expectations, leading to moral deregulation and a lack of legitimate aspirations. This condition reflects a deeper mismatch, rather than mere absence of norms.
In his 1893 publication, Durkheim introduced anomie to explain the disconnect between collective guild labor and evolving societal needs, particularly when guilds were homogeneous. He likened redundant skills to mechanical solidarity, which hinders adaptation due to its rigidity. In contrast, a labor division based on diversity reflects organic solidarity, characterized by adaptability and sensitivity to change.
Durkheim noted that the conflict between these forms of solidarity is such that one cannot coexist with the other. In an organic context, anomie is absent, as awareness of mutual needs fosters evolution in labor division: “Producers, being near consumers, can easily gauge the extent of needs to be fulfilled.” However, when an opaque barrier disrupts connections, relationships become infrequent and erratic. As a result, producers lose sight of market boundaries, leading to unrestrained and chaotic production.
Durkheim’s analysis of anomie particularly addressed the effects of industrialization, highlighting how mass-regimentation can resist necessary adaptations due to its inherent inertia. This resistance contributes to cycles of disruptive collective behavior, such as economic instability, which require substantial momentum to overcome.
According to Durkheim, traditional religions often provided the shared values that the anomic individual lacks. He argued that the division of labor, intensified by the Industrial Revolution, prompted individuals to pursue self-serving goals instead of the welfare of the community. Robert King Merton further developed the concept of anomie in his strain theory, defining it as the gap between societal goals and the legitimate means to achieve them. An individual experiencing anomie may aspire to societal goals but find themselves unable to attain them through accepted channels due to structural barriers within society.
The Normal Times 