Anomie 
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**Summary** 

Anomie describes the individual’s subjective response to a community and social environment that is 
perceived to be threatening and unregulated. Anomie is expressed in an individual tendency towards 
loss of motivation and feelings of despair and helplessness (Srole, 1956). The four-item scale has been 
used in the SOEP at irregular intervals in the 90s and at regular five-year intervals since 2008. 

**Theoretical Background** 

Anomie refers to a condition of normlessness, that is, a lack of social norms. Durkheim (1897, 1951) 
introduced the concept of anomie in sociology to describe the erosion of social norms and societal 
rules under conditions of far-reaching structural change—for example, the conditions that arise in 
times of rapid social and economic transformation. The result is a breakdown of bonds between the 
individual and the community or society.  
Merton (1938) applied and expanded the concept of anomie in his theory of deviant behavior. He 
extended Durkheim’s understanding by observing the factors that lead to anomie. In Merton’s view, 
anomie may occur when (1) cultural goals and desires are prescribed as normative for a society as a 
whole; (2) the legitimate means used to achieve these goals are strictly regulated; and (3) these 
legitimate means are unequally distributed in the society. Anomie is then the result of a state in which 
the individual adheres to the society’s main cultural ideas and principles but does not possess the 
legitimate means to attain them. The result may be various forms of deviant behavior such as criminal 
acts.  
Durkheim (1897, 1951) treated anomie primarily as a social condition, whereas Merton (1938) shifted 
the focus to the individual. Srole (1956) followed on Merton’s (1938) understanding, contributing the 
social psychological construct of anomia to the constellation of themes surrounding anomie. Anomia 
relates to the individual, psychological side of a social condition that is perceived to be anomic. In this 
regard, the concept of anomia shows certain similarities with external locus of control. 

**Scale Development** 

The anomie scale taken from the German Welfare Survey (Duttenhöfer & Schröder, 1996) was 
shortened for the SOEP survey and one positive item was added.  

**References**

*Durkheim, E. (1951). Suicide, a study in sociology. Glencoe, Ill.: Free Press.*

*Duttenhöfer, S. & Schröder, H. (1996). Die Wohlfahrtssurveys 1978-1993 - Variablenübersicht. 
Zuma-Technischer Bericht 94/11. Mannheim.*

*Merton, R. K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3, 672-682.*

*Srole, L. (1956). Social integration and certain corollaries: An exploratory study. American 
Sociological Review, 21, 709-716.*

**Items**

To what extent do the following statements apply to you (Wie sehr stimmen die folgenden Aussagen 
für Sie persönlich):

	1. When I think about the future, I’m actually quite optimistic. (Wenn ich an die Zukunft denke, bin ich eigentlich sehr zuversichtlich.) 
	2. I often feel lonely. (Ich fühle mich oft einsam.) 
	3. I don’t really enjoy my work. (Meine Arbeit macht mir eigentlich keine Freude.) 
	4. Things have gotten so complicated that I almost can’t manage anymore. (Die Verhältnisse sind so kompliziert geworden, dass ich mich fast nicht mehr zurecht finde.)
 
Scale: 1 (Completely / Stimmt ganz und gar) to 4 (Not at all / Stimmt ganz und gar nicht) 

**Test-Retest Correlations**

In 2005, this scale was included in a retest taken by a subsample (N = 126 completed the scale) within 
30 to 49 days after the initial test. Test-retest correlations for the items were (in scale order) .39, .52, 
.30, and .52; scale scores correlated .60.

**Items and Scale Statistics** 

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