anomie
/ˈanəmi
/(also anomy)
noun [mass noun]
Lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group: the theory that high-rise architecture leads to anomie in the residents...
- In the latter half of her article, Ms Toynbee turns to social anomie among her neighbours in her block of flats.
- Complaints of attendant social breakdown, of anomie and alienation, of the dissolution of marriage and households, of the decline of religion, were commonly - and perhaps too glibly - voiced.
- This sample has been used to test the relevance of diverse factors related to economic strain and anomie on individuals' religious affiliation preferences.
Derivatives
anomic
- Yes, this is a Herculean task given that following independence and the growing exposure of the Namibian economy to global competition, the country drifted into a somewhat anomic situation, which could not be remedied yet.
- But when they are compared with their U.S. peers, they seem both pretty conservative and pretty liberal as opposed to anomic, alienated, violent, and excluded.
- I know it's a fashion thing and as a sociologist I could go on all day about anomic youth and the intrinsic power of youth sub cultures, inclusion, exclusion and the influence and glamour of rap music but that's boring.
Origin
1930s: from French, from Greek anomia, from anomos 'lawless'.