A condition of normlessness where social or moral standards seem absent, leading to feelings of disconnection, purposelessness, and alienation. It describes both personal disorientation and societal breakdown.
From Greek 'anomia' meaning 'lawlessness.' Sociologist Émile Durkheim popularized the term to describe social conditions that leave individuals without clear norms or values to guide behavior.
Anomie perfectly captures the modern feeling of being adrift in a world without clear rules or meaning—think of how social media can leave people feeling simultaneously connected and utterly alone. Durkheim predicted this would be a major psychological challenge in rapidly changing societies.
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