Which term best captures a state of normlessness arising when social norms break down?

• A. Aggregate
• B. Attitude
• C. Anomie
• D. Community organization

Answer: (C)

The concept tested here is normlessness in sociology. When social norms lose their authority or fail to guide behavior—often during rapid social change, crisis, or disruption—people can feel adrift, unsure of how to act, and detached from shared expectations. This state is called anomie. Durkheim used it to describe periods when norms are weak or unclear, leading to confusion, alienation, and sometimes deviance, and he even linked it to higher suicide rates in extreme cases. Anomie is the precise term for this breakdown of social norms, while the other terms describe different ideas: an aggregate is just a collection of individuals, an attitude is a personal orientation, and community organization refers to structured efforts to coordinate community resources.