social alienation
Feeling profoundly isolated
Social alienation is the experience of feeling disconnected from one's community, society, or sense of self.
The term appears in sociology and psychology to describe estrangement from social bonds, meaningful work, or shared values.
Someone experiencing social alienation feels like an outsider even among others: His social alienation deepened after moving to a city where he knew no one.
The concept is central to Marxist theory, where it describes workers' disconnection from the products of their labor.
Relegation to powerless periphery
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- segregationForced separation by group
- otheringViewing as fundamentally different
scapegoating · shunning · banishment · blacklisting · rejection · outcasting · untouchability · ghettoization
Act of taking away
- seclusionVoluntary withdrawal from society
- separatenessState of being apart
- insularityNarrow detachment from broader views
- hermitPerson choosing total seclusion
recluse · bubble · echo chamber · atomization · detachment · disconnection · cocooning · ivory tower
Lack of significance
- rootlessnessState of having no anchor
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- driftGradual movement, no direction
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
disintegration · unraveling · valuelessness · purposelessness · disconnectedness · instability · disarray · aimlessness
State of being severed
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- riftCrack or estrangement
- separationState of being apart
- breachBreaking of agreement
disunion · schism · discord · rupture · fracture · parting · disjuncture · disownment
Detachment from one's identity
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- self-estrangementDisconnection from one's identity
- identity crisisLoss of personal certainty
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
inferiority complex · stigma · imposter syndrome · anxiety · depression · powerlessness · helplessness · hopelessness
State of being alone
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
- desolationState of complete emptiness
- forlornnessMiserable isolation of spirit
homesickness · yearning · longing · friendlessness · unloved · left out · neglect · heartache
Unequal distribution of resources
- class divisionSeparation by socioeconomic status
- economic disparityUneven distribution of resources
- institutional racismPrejudice embedded in organizations
- systemic discriminationPrejudice embedded in institutions
power imbalance · capitalism · exploitation · proletariat · underclass · precariat · caste system · colonialism
Unhappiness with circumstances
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- distrustAbsence of confidence
disenchantment · dissatisfaction · disgruntlement · bitterness · antipathy · rebellion · radicalization · unrest
marginalization
Relegation to powerless periphery
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- segregationForced separation by group
othering · scapegoating · shunning · banishment · blacklisting · rejection · outcasting · untouchability · ghettoization · redlining
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- seclusionVoluntary withdrawal from society
- separatenessState of being apart
- insularityNarrow detachment from broader views
hermit · recluse · bubble · echo chamber · atomization · detachment · disconnection · cocooning · ivory tower · self-isolation
meaninglessness
Lack of significance
- rootlessnessState of having no anchor
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- driftGradual movement, no direction
fragmentation · disintegration · unraveling · valuelessness · purposelessness · disconnectedness · instability · disarray · aimlessness · entropy
disconnection
State of being severed
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- riftCrack or estrangement
- separationState of being apart
breach · disunion · schism · discord · rupture · fracture · parting · disjuncture · disownment · cut off
depersonalization
Detachment from one's identity
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- self-estrangementDisconnection from one's identity
- identity crisisLoss of personal certainty
insecurity · inferiority complex · stigma · imposter syndrome · anxiety · depression · powerlessness · helplessness · hopelessness · numbness
solitude
State of being alone
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
- desolationState of complete emptiness
forlornness · homesickness · yearning · longing · friendlessness · unloved · left out · neglect · heartache · melancholy
inequality
Unequal distribution of resources
- class divisionSeparation by socioeconomic status
- economic disparityUneven distribution of resources
- institutional racismPrejudice embedded in organizations
systemic discrimination · power imbalance · capitalism · exploitation · proletariat · underclass · precariat · caste system · colonialism · patriarchy
discontent
Unhappiness with circumstances
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
distrust · disenchantment · dissatisfaction · disgruntlement · bitterness · antipathy · rebellion · radicalization · unrest · political apathy
- literary psychologypsychological depth, psychological conflict, inner monologue, stream of consciousness, subconscious
social alienationsocial integration
Absorption into community life
belonging · social cohesion · community · social bonding · togetherness
social alienationsense of belonging
Feeling included and accepted
inclusion · acceptance · social acceptance · rootedness · social identity
social alienationcivic engagement
Active citizenship in community
community involvement · social engagement · active citizenship · communal life · collective action
alien, social, society, associate, association, sociable, socialism, aliens, antisocial