Anomie is a concept that refers to the social state of absence of rules and norms, where individuals disregard the social control that governs a given society.
Thus, the so-called anomic societies are considered anarchic, as people fail to follow the social and moral references that were once established by a common order.
From a theological point of view, anomie consists of non-compliance with religious precepts and the so-called “laws of God”.
But, this term can still be used in different areas of knowledge, such as medicine, for example. In this case, anomie is translated as the pathological inability of a certain person to name objects, even being able to recognize it.
See also: the meaning of Anarchism.
social anomie
Anomie is a concept that has been extensively explored in the sociological field. One of the main representatives of this theory was the sociologist and social psychologist Emile Durkheim, in his works “Suicide” (1897) and “From the Social Division of Labor” (1893).
According to Durkheim's conception, social anomie is built on the basis of
absence of social and moral norms to serve as a “guide” for society.The “break” of traditional social references intensified as society was modernized, which caused major changes in people's way of life and thinking.
The loss of faith (source of power of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages, for example) and cultural traditions (weakened with the growth of globalization and large metropolises), are some of the consequences of these transformations. social.
But, as he states in his works, Durkheim says that social anomie remains active temporarily, only during the period of transaction between social transformations.
From this anomic scenario, the feeling of uncertainty, anxiety and frustration is configured among people, who search for satisfaction and new meanings for their lives.
Durkheim also states that this weakening of social bonds and satisfaction with life can generate tragic phenomena, such as suicide, for example.
The call anomic suicide, as the French sociologist explains, is motivated precisely by the feeling of instability in society, which does not feel "protected" by a direction that points out what is right and wrong, what is true or false, and etc.
Anomie and Heteronomy
Heteronomy is, in part, one of the elements necessary for not configuring a social anomie.
Consists of the condition of submission to moral and religious values and traditions, principally. This acceptance that the individual has of external rules is followed passively, with no room for the person to interfere in the validity of such rules.
Learn more about the meaning of heteronomy.
The opposite of heteronomy is the autonomy, which consists of the individual capacity of each person to determine the laws that govern their conduct. Unlike heteronomy, autonomy is less passive to external decisions, making room for each person's particular reflection.
In other words, it means the freedom that each individual has to choose different choices and question the rules that are imposed on him.
See also: the meaning of Autonomy.