2016/11/06 by Ali Teymoori, Brock Bastian, Jolanda Jetten · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation #Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence #Social and Intergroup Psychology
paper · doi:10.1111/pops.12377
openalex publication_date 2016/11/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Anomie, as defined by sociologists, refers to a state of society characterized by deregulation and erosion of moral values. In the present conceptual analysis, we bring the concept of anomie under a social psychological spotlight. We explore the conditions under which anomie arises and develop a model outlining various responses to anomie. We define anomie as a shared perception of the state of society and propose that two conditions must be met for anomie to emerge. First, a society's social fabric must be perceived to be breaking down (i.e., lack of trust and erosion of moral standards). Second, a society's leadership must be perceived to be breaking down (i.e., lack of legitimacy and effectiveness of leadership). We highlight two key responses of individuals to an anomic situation: a contraction of the personal self and a contraction of the social self. We discuss how a psychology of anomie can inform and advance broader theorizing on group processes.