Psychology
Anomie and the Crisis of Meaning in Late Modernity
Quick fact
The French sociologist Émile Durkheim identified a state of 'normlessness' called anomie, where shared values break down, a state that late modernity—with its hyper-individualism and loss of traditional anchors—has amplified, contributing to rising rates of depression and political radicalization.
Why this is interesting
We are more connected than ever, yet many feel a deep sense of isolation and purposelessness. What happens to our sense of meaning when the old anchors of belief and community vanish?