Anomie: Encyclopedia II - Anomie - Anomie as individual disorder

Anomie - Anomie as individual disorder

The nineteenth century French pioneer sociologist Émile Durkheim used this word in his book outlining the causes of suicide, to describe a condition or malaise in individuals, characterized by an absence or diminution of standards or values, and an associated feeling of alienation and purposelessness. Anomie is remarkably common when the surrounding society has undergone significant changes in economic fortunes, whether for good or for worse, and more generally when there is a significant discrepancy between the ideological theories and values commonly professed and the practice of everyday life.

In Durkheim's view, traditional religions often provided the basis for the shared values which the anomic individual lacks. Furthermore, he argues that the division of labor prevalent in modern economic life since the Industrial Revolution leads individuals to pursue egoistic ends rather than seeking the good of a larger community.

Robert King Merton also adopted the idea of anomie in his work, defining it as the discrepancy between common social goals and the legitimate means to attain those goals. In other words, an individual suffering from anomie will strive to attain the common goals of a specific society yet cannot reach these goals legitimately due to various social limitations. As a result the individual will exhibit deviant behavior in order to satisfy him or herself.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Anomie as individual disorder", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki