The relationship between anomia and maladaptive personality traits

Abstract

Abstract.Research of anomia is topical in the period when a society endures social and economic changes. On the other hand, the modern Western society is characterized by a rapid speed of development, by diversity, variability, multicultural life. In such conditions for some individuals it could be difficult to make life choices. Such individuals can get into "an anomic state". In a situation of rapid social and political changes as well as simply in the modern diverse and rapidly developing society pathological personality traits can serve as a factor that aggravates anomic feelings. Thus, the main purpose of this research is to investigate relations between anomia and pathological personality traits. The sample consisted of 83 Latvian inhabitants aged from 19 to 47 years (16.9% males, 83.1% females). The Anomia Questionnaire -AQ [1] and the Latvian Clinical Personality Inventory -LCPI v2.2 [2] were used. It is found that there are multiple relations between all six sub-dimensions of anomia and certain different maladaptive personality traits. Irresponsibility is the only personality trait that predicts deviation from prescribed rules or customs. Negative emotionality is the only significant predictor for social distrust. Suspiciousness that falls within a first-order domain Psychoticism and a second-order domain Schizotypy is the most significant predictor of estrangement to others as a dimension of anomia. Eccentricity that falls within a first-order domain Psychoticism and a second-order domain Schizotypy is the most significant predictor of cultural isolation. Separation insecurity that falls within a first-order domain Dependence and a second-order domain Neuroticism is the most significant predictor of a lack of goal clarity as a dimension of anomia. Depression as a pathological personality trait that falls within a first-order domain Negative emotionality and a second-order domain Neuroticism is the most significant predictor of a lack of goal clarity as a dimension of anomia.

“Macron demission!”: Loss of significance generates violent extremism for the Yellow Vests through feelings of anomia

“…This individual-level construct stems from sociological work on anomie, which differs from anomia in that it refers to a societal state of normlessness (Durkheim, 1897). If anomic societies can generate increased anomia (Levina, Perejolkina, Martinsone, Mihailova, & Kolesnikova, 2018; Meier & Bell, 1959; Merton, 1938; Seeman, 1959, 1975; H. P. Smith & Bohm, 2008; Teymoori et al, 2016; Zhao & Cao, 2010), we argue that existential threats such as LoS could affect violent extremism through increased anomia.…”

“…Moreover, 70% of YV supporters live below the median income in France and 24% say they have big financial difficulties (Algan, et al, 2019). This might be indicative of marginalized/deprived situations, which typically generate feelings of anomia (Smith & Bohm, 2008;Levina, Perejolkina, Martinsone, Mihailova, & Kolesnikova, 2018).…”

Youth Extremism as a Response to Global Threats?

“…Anomia occurs whenever one's values conflict with the values and norms of their society (Travis, 1993;Srole, 1956;Meier & Bell, 1959, Zhao & Cao, 2010. It includes feelings of normlessness, but also of meaninglessness, powerlessness, self-estrangement and social isolation (Seeman, 1959;Smith & Bohm, 2008, Levina, Perejolkina, Martinsone, Mihailova & Kolesnikova, 2018. It can lead to individual situations of social disaffiliation (Castel, 2000) or 'alienation in the modern sense' (Travis, 1993).…”

“…Anomia occurs whenever one's values conflict with the values and norms of society (Meier & Bell, 1959;Srole, 1956;Travis, 1993;Zhao & Cao, 2010). It includes feelings of normlessness, but also of meaninglessness, powerlessness, self-estrangement, and social isolation (Levina et al, 2018;Seeman, 1959;Smith & Bohm, 2008).…”

Co-radicalisation of Islamist and Nativist Extremists in Europe

“…On top of the direct humiliation-compensation motives driving the effects of loss of significance on violent extremism, research shows that other existential motivations such as pertaining to control, freedom, meaning motives (Greenberg et al, 2004;Jonas et al, 2014) underpin politically violent behaviour. In fact, significance/meaning is just one of five existential concerns that make up a very potent construct for understanding violent extremism: anomia (Levina et al, 2018;Meier and Bell, 1959;Merton, 1938;Seeman, 1959Seeman, , 1975Smith & Bohm, 2008;Zhao & Cao, 2010;Teymoori et al, 2016). Anomia is defined as a psychological state including feelings of meaninglessness, powerlessness, social isolation, normlessness and selfestrangement (Smith & Bohm, 2008;.…”