Anomie

Anomia (Greek: anómia = lawlessness) generally describes a state of lawlessness, disorder, a lack of social order and the collapse of cultural order or inadequate social integration.

The term anomie was originally, especially in England in the 16th/17th century, an expression for breaking religious laws.

Today, anomie has less to do with laws than with "rules" and "norms", i.e. the value system of a certain culture, society or community, according to which the individual should or could orient himself.

Sociology describes anomie as a state of low social order.