Alienation

Alienation is a sociological concept, particularly associated with Karl Marx, that describes a state of disconnection or estrangement individuals feel from themselves, others, or their work. In capitalist societies, alienation occurs when workers are separated from the products of their labor, the labor process, their fellow workers, and their own human potential. It highlights the dehumanizing effects of commodification and exploitation in economic systems. Alienation is also studied in broader contexts, such as social isolation, lack of meaning, and estrangement from societal norms. Sociologists use this concept to explore how structural inequalities and economic systems shape individual experiences and social relationships.