According to Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist, every society begins with a simple form of interaction. In such society, which he termed as a mechanical society, individuals are held together in solidarity, where members have similar aims and goals. As the society experience growth, and undergo economic advancement, it develops into an organic society, where there is a division of labour and specialization, with every member of the society having their own niche. Durkheim posits that no one society is wholly mechanical or fully organic, as even the most mechanical society requires some form of variation, and one will also find the simplest form of uniformity even in an ultra organic society. An abrupt, rather than graudal change from a mechanical to organic society will trigger the state of anomie which refers to normlessness, a condition where societal norm are no longer adhered to by individuals of the society. Due to the abrupt change, members of the society struggle to cope, and resort to deviancy to relieve the strain they have been suffering from as a result of the change.
To some extent, we can observe that the phenomena of anomie occur at almost every level of the society. It is not merely confined to the macro-society, but extends to the micro-society. In every organization and community, individuals started out as being altruistic, where the communal spirit trumps every other matter around them. But as the society grow and mature, individuals become more individualistic, and more egoistic in line with moving towards achieving their individual goals.
Speaking from experience, I have come to realize that as a simple micro-society move from their mechanical state to the organic state in an abrupt manner, a condition very much like anomie takes place, where individuals commit deviance, in the sense of deviation from their principles and values, the very principles and values that have kept the mechanical society together. The organic society is some sort of mini-capitalist. Everyman for himself and deviance thus occurs because individuals in the micro-society struggled to come to terms with the sudden change in the group’s direction. Individuals wrestle with their conscience, torn between what is wrong and what is right; what is good and what is bad. We then see all sorts of inconsistencies in individuals’ actions and words, not because they have become hypocrite, but because they cannot decide if they really want the organic society or the mechanical society. Quite simply, it’s between loyalty and looking after one’s own interest. In most cases, it is the latter.
Now, an organic society is not all negative, but an organic society that had experienced anomie will eventually crumble, as the rapid change will result in the mass efflux of individuals who believe in collectiveness, as they could not rationalize the sudden transformation in their society. What is left then are those individuals that are selfish and individualistic. This will create an imbalance in the society, which will finally lead to the breakdown of the new organic society.
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"子貢問曰、有一言、而可以終身行之者乎。子曰、其恕乎、己所 不欲、勿施於人。
"never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself"
Analects XV.24