Defining Two Types of Alienation

Degree of alienation is one of two main dimensions of social structure, the other being stratification. The social class dimension is well defined, at least operationally, in terms of the distribution of wealth and power. Alienation and solidarity, on the other hand, is still poorly defined, both conceptually (Schacht, 1970; 1994) and operationally (Seeman 1975). A recent article (Scheff 2011) may help, but it is still too early to tell. Part of the treatment, however is straightforward: there is often confusion in the basic idea of alienation. In his study of suicide, Durkheim proposed that it was caused by two opposite kinds of alienation, altruism/fatalism (too close to the group) and anomie/egoism (too far). Norbert Elias (1994) used different language to make the same point: he called too close dependence and too far independence. He went on to imply a definition of solidarity as a middle distance between self and group, interdependence. He also referred to interdependence as “I-We balance.” Similar ideas have been explored by social psychologists, who call “too far ” isolation, and “too close ” engulfment. Engulfment is treated as alienation from self in order to closely conform to the group. An example would be that for many years, wives were often expected to renounc