anomie

Anomie is a sociological term for a state of normlessness or social instability in which the norms governing individuals’ behavior are weakened, unclear, or in conflict. It describes a breakdown or erosion of social norms that guide everyday actions and expectations.

The concept was developed by Émile Durkheim in the late 19th century, notably in The Division of Labour in Society (1893) and Suicide (1897). Durkheim linked anomie to periods of rapid social or economic change when regulation of behavior and shared values fail to keep pace with new conditions, leaving individuals without clear guidelines for conduct.

Consequences of anomie, in Durkheim’s framework, include moral confusion, purposelessness, and increased deviancy or social disintegration. The lack of stable norms can contribute to higher rates of suicide and crime as individuals struggle to adapt to shifting social expectations.

Durkheim identified different forms of suicide related to social integration and regulation, including anomic, egoistic, altruistic, and fatalistic types; anomie is most closely associated with weaker norms and deregulation. The concept was later expanded by Robert K. Merton, who used it to develop strain theory. Merton argued that social structures may pressure individuals to achieve culturally approved goals by legitimate means, and when those means are constrained, diverse deviant adaptations may emerge (conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion).

In contemporary usage, anomie describes normlessness in modern societies facing rapid change, globalization, or economic shocks. It remains a tool for analyzing deviance, political disaffection, and social cohesion, and is often discussed alongside related ideas such as alienation and social regulation.