SOCIAL ALIENATION
DEFINITION OF CONCEPT
• ALIENATION = an • SOCIAL ALIENATION = a
ambiguous concept with
elusive meanings; state of
feeling estranged or
separated from one’s
ambience, work, products
of work, or self
condition in social
relationships reflected by a low
degree of integration or
common values and a high
degree of distance or
isolation between individuals,
or between an individual and a
group of people in a
community or work
environment
 KEY WORDS

• POWERLESSNESS
• MEANINGLESSNESS
• NORMLESSNESS
• REMOVAL FROM ESTABLISHED VALUES IN
SOCIETY
• EXCLUSION
• SOCIAL ISOLATION
• SELF-ESTRANGEMENT
SOCIAL ISOLATION VS ALIENATION
 QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• What life circumstances may spark

loneliness and alienation?
• Which factors impact people
irrespective of age and social status ?
Why?
• Which factors impact young people the
most? Why?

• Which factors impact the elderly? Why?

• Which factors impact the migrants? Why?

 SOCIAL ALIENATION –
SPEAKING INTERACTION TASK

• You are attending the International Sociology Conference in

Manchester and have decided to participate in one of the discussion
sessions themed “Social Alienation and Isolation in Relation to
New Technologies – A Matter of Urgency or A Transient
Phenomenon.” The focus of the session will be on the extent to
which this concept is of importance (urgent or transient) and why
so. Participants are expected to engage in meaningful exchanges
(interact with the interlocutor(s) agreeing or disagreeing with their
standpoint) and express their opinions (for or against) bringing 2 –
3 relevant and coherent arguments.
 FOR (MATTER OF URGENCY)

 New technologies pull people away from traditional social

settings and weaken already strained social ties
 Impact on health of the loneliness epidemic is comparable to
other serious health hazards (smoking, obesity, sedentary
lifestyle)
 New technologies promote connections that lack depth and
meaningfulness
• Your own ideas .........
 AGAINST (TRANSIENT
PHENOMENON)

 New technologies support the democratic process through their

information sharing capabilities that can be accessed by like-
minded individuals / the marginalized, etc.
 New technologies empower workers allowing for greater work
flexibility and opportunities beyond geographical boundaries.
• Your own ideas ………