Social Disorganization and Individual Disorganization

Author(s): Herbert Blumer

Reviewed work(s):
Source: American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 42, No. 6 (May, 1937), pp. 871-877
Published by: The University of Chicago Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2767808 .
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 SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION AND INDIVIDUAL
DISORGANIZATION
HERBERT BLUMER

ABSTRACT
The psychiatriccontributionsseem to presentthe followingcompositeposition:
(i) social disorganizationis an extensionof individualdisorganization;(2) it is un-
consciouslymotivated;(3) it is a productofunfortunate childhoodexperiences;and (4)
its eliminationrequiresan effectiveschemeof childhoodeducation. Much social dis-
organizationcannot be thoughtofas arisingout ofindividualdisorder.Individualdis-
orderseemsto gain its opportunity forexpressionwheresocial disorganizationprevails.
The problemas to how social disorganizationemanates in individualdisorderis un-
charted. Its solutiondependsupon fullerknowledgeofthe psychologyofsharedvalues
and of semi-unwitting social rhythms.

The problemwithwhichthissymposium is concerned is relatively

uncharted.Verylittlesystematic attentionhas beendevotedto the
interrelation ofsocialdisorganization and ofindividualdisorder, as
it is conceivedby psychiatrists. Consequently, it is a welcomeex-
perienceto receivetheviews,as theybearon thisissue,ofa set of
distinguished The contributions
psychiatrists. areofa highorderof
competence; to evaluatethemfroma sociological pointofviewis no
easy task. While important differences existbetween the viewsof
thesevencontributors, I believetherearefourbasicpositions which
theysharemoreorless and whichseemto comprisethepsychiatric
viewoftheproblemat issue.
First,it is clearthatthecontributors (in varyingdegree)are in-
clinedto view social disorganization as an extensionof individual
disorganization-as a projection, intothefieldofinterpersonal rela-
tions,oftheneurotic traitsofdisordered individuals.Individualdis-
organization and socialdisorganization tendto becomegenerically
alikeunderthisview. Disorganizedindividuals, as participants in
grouplife,are obviouslyin thepositionto expresstheirdispositions
insideof the textureof socialrelations;further, theirneuroticbe-
haviortendsto induceneuroticbehavioron the part of others.
Viewedthisway,socialdisorganization is theproliferation ofindi-
vidualdisorganization; it has its genesisin the experiences of dis-
orderedindividuals.Thisviewservesnicelytheinterest ofpsychia-
87I
872 THE AMERICAN JOURNALOF SOCIOLOGY

tryforit permits oneto attacktheproblemofsocialdisorganization

in termsof theknowledgegainedthroughthe studyof individual
disorder.
A recognition thatthisviewis not ampleenoughto accountfor
all socialdisorganizationis readilygiven,in varyingdegree,bymost
ofthecontributors. A placeis madeforsocialdisorganization which
doesnothaveitssourceinindividualdisorder.It is precisely at this
point,however,thatdifficulty attendsthepsychiatric explanation,
sincethisformofsocialdisorganization doesnotseemto lenditself
to interpretation by schemesformulated fromthe investigation. of
individualdisorder.So far,then,as the area of psychiatric inter-
pretationis concerned, it seemsclearthatsocialdisorganization is
viewedas beinggenericwithindividualdisorganization.
Second,operatingwiththisview,thecontributions depictsocial
disorganization as havingthe"unconsciously motivated"character
thatwe are familiar within thecase oftheneuroses.The interindi-
vidualbehaviorcomprising socialdisorganization irra-
is essentially
tional,expressive of hidden and camouflaged impulses,and under
theguidanceofautisticorillusory images.Theconductofdisordered
individualsis undertheswayofperspectives whichhave been dis-
tortedbyearlierexperiences whichhaveinducedthedisorder;social
disorganization is likewiseassociatedwithsuch distortedperspec-
tives.
Thirdis thebeliefthatthegenesisofpersonaland,hence,ofsocial
disorganization is tobe foundinearlychildhood experience,especial-
ly as it takesplace in the familymilieu.These experiences which
areso crucialand vitalantedate,seemingly, theperiodat whichthe
childordersitsconductby theintellectual orrationalsymbolsofits
culture.Further, theeffects ofsuchexperiences aredeep-seated and
lasting,givingriseto an organization orpatternoflifewhichshapes
and determines subsequentexperiences. Laterexperiences mayact
to intensify andbringto a crisisthedisorganizing ofthe
dispositions
individual;theydo not,seemingly, implantsuchdispositions.
Fourthis thebeliefthattheelimination ofsocialdisorganization,
as wellas ofpersonaldisorganization, has to comethrougha form
ofchildeducation.A program ofchildtraining, designedto prevent
theexperiences whichestablishimpulsesthatwouldlead to subse-
 SOCIAL AND INDIVIDUAL DISORGANIZATION 873

quentindividualdisorder, becomesalso themeansofobviatingthe

socialdisorganization whicharisesoutofthesamenexus.In a gen-
eral sense,thisis thetypeofsolutionto theproblemof socialdis-
organization thatseemstobe represented inthepsychiatric position.
ThisschemeoffourpointsiswhatI piecetogether outoftheseven
contributions as representing whatI am takingthelibertyofcalling
the"psychiatric" I
position. frankly realizethatit doesnotportray
theindividual variations amongthecontributions, and to thisextent
it cannotbe regardedas doingjusticeto any one of them. Yet I
feelthatit does presenta faircompositepicturerepresentative of
whatI detectto be thelogicofthepsychiatric positionas it shapes
itselfin thesymposium.It willserve,at anyrate,as themeansof
statingcertainobservations, andinquiries
reflections, bearingon the
vitalproblemoftherelationbetweenpersonaland socialdisorgan-
ization.
Somehelpfullighton thisproblemis givenby viewingsocialdis-
organization in collectiveterms.Organizedsociallifeseemsto exist
in theformofconcertedbehavior,i.e., thepeoplewhoare in inter-
dependent relationshavetheirlinesofactivityso orientedthatthey
fallintoa concerted or co-ordinated arrangement. Thisseemsto be
thenatureoforderly grouplife.Socialdisorganization is tobe found
in the disturbance of such concertedorientation but not in every
suchdisturbance.For humangrouplifeis subjectto constantre-
forming:crisesemerge, newneedsarise,and newsituations haveto
be met. Everygrouphas need of reorganizing its collectivelifein
orderto retainconcertedness. Socialdisorganization,in anyfunda-
mentalsense,prevailswhena societyin the face of disturbance
loses the abilityto re-establish concertedbehavior.Such a society
may be said to have lost orientation. This impliesan absenceof
commonobjectivesbetweenindividualsand groupsof individuals,
represented especiallyin conflictingvalues,whichmanysociologists
havereferred to as the"heartofsocialdisorganization."
Viewedin thismanner,it is wellto stressthatsocialdisorganiza-
tionmay ariseand persistwithoutbeingan expression ofpersonal
disorganization. Througha varietyofcauses-communication, cul-
turalcontact,invention, redistributionofwealth,naturalcatastro-
phes-theremay ariseand flourish codes,philosophies, interpreta-
874 THE AMERICANJOURNAL
OF SOCIOLOGY

tions,aspirations,and convictions whichare conflicting, contradic-

tory,confused, and ambiguous.Competitive situationsofdifferent
kindsmay emergewithoutany adequate "rulesof the game" to
governthem.Conflicts may developin religiouscircles,in thepo-
liticalarena,in moralrelations, betweenage groups,in thefamily,
betweenclasses-conflicts whicha givensocietyis incapable,seem-
ingly,of reconciling. It is quite unnecessary to thinkof such dis-
organization as emanating fromtheexperiences of disordered indi-
viduals;forit may existbetweentheindividualswho are not dis-
organized.If anything, thelogicaland temporal relationmaybe the
reverse:social disorganization-individual disorganization. It is
scarcelynecessary to add thatsuchsocialdisorganization is nottobe
eliminated through a programofchildtraining.
To admitthattheremaybe socialdisorganization whichdoesnot
ariseout of theexperience and conductofdisorganized individuals
merelyleavesus withtheinteresting and significantviewthatthere
is social disorganization whichdoes have such a source.As sug-
gestedabove,thisviewseemstobe theheartofthepsychiatric posi-
tion. It deservescarefulconsideration, sinceit refersto at leastone
oftheimportant facetsofrelationbetweenpersonaland socialdis-
organization.
Firstofall,mayI expresstheviewthatneurotic orpersonally dis-
orderedindividualsmaycarryon betweenthema collectivelife
whichis notdisorganized, especiallyiftheirneurotic behavioris not
severe.Theirsociallifemay notbe at a levelofhighefficiency or
wholesomeness, but it may be well underthe influence of social
discipline.Thisnotionis notso improbable; forall ofus,I imagine,
are familiarwithindividualswho have at least slightevidenceof
whatpsychiatry wouldlabel as "neurotic"tendency, and whoQut-
wardlyadhereto the rulesand expectations of theirgroupcode.
Theirneuroticdisposition is likelyto lurkbehindtheirovertsocial
conduct,disordering, perhaps,theirinnerexperience but not nec-
essarilyinterfering witha capacityto carryon orderlyand organ-
ized relationswiththeirfellows.
Another observation leadsmetobelievethattheneurotic makeup
of individualsdoes not necessarily or inevitablylead to socialdis-
organization, namely,thetendency forpeopleundernormalcondi-
 SOCIAL AND INDIVIDUAL DISORGANIZATION 875

tionsto isolatesociallyan individualwhoseneuroticbehaviorbe-

comespronounced.I am notthinking oftheextreme formsofsuch
behavior,as, forexample,the psychoticoutbreakwhichin our
society,at any rate,is likelyto lead to sometypeofincarceration.
I refer merelyto thoseexpressions whichlead one'sfellows to regard
himas queer,unnatural, or unsocial.If suchconductis
unreliable,
notdefined by thegroupin sucha wayas to elevatetheindividual
intoa specialsocialposition,thetendency, I think,is to encysthim
and to thisextentremovehimfromthewebofsocialrelations.
These observations do notinvalidatetheobviousfactthatneu-
roticordisorganized individuals
maycontribute effectivelyto social
disorganization. Theydo raise,however, thequestionas to thecir-
cumstancesunderwhichthisis likelyto occur.In answering the
question,one must,I feel,attachconsiderable weightto thefactor
of socialdiscipline.Whereit is lax or ineffective, neuroticdisposi-
can
tions breakthrough anddisorderthe lives andconductofothers.
Thissuggeststhatan alreadyexisting stateofsocialdisorganization
formsan especiallyfavorablesituationto theexpression ofneurotic
tendencyat theexpenseofothers.The absenceofsocialdisorgan-
ization,I feel,is a limitingconditionto thefreeexerciseofneurotic
tendency in socialrelations.
The further questionas to howfarsocialdisorganization maybe
augmented, or increasedby individualdisorganization
intensified,
is an interesting question,but one whichI suspectto be un-
answerableat present.It is clear that a neuroticindividualwho
escapestheinfluence ofsocialdisciplinemaymakethelivesofsome
otherpeopleunpleasant,miserable,and perhapseven unbearable.
It is furtherlikelythatsucha person,ifhe happenedto occupysome
strategic socialposition,mightbe able to commitsomeactionthat
mightdisturbconsiderably theorganized lifeofa largesegment ofa
population.However,I findit difficult to see howfarsuchan indi-
vidualcouldcontribute to theconfusion
directly ofsocialvaluesor
socialobjectives.This remains, however, an important problem.
Someconsideration shouldbe givento theoppositeproblem-the
effect ofsocialdisorganization on personalmakeup.The treatment
giventhisproblemby thecontributed articlesis ratherslightand,
on thewhole,moreimplicitthanexplicit.It wouldseem,fromthe
876 THE AMERICAN JOURNALOF SOCIOLOGY

generalcharacter oftheviewsexpressedin thearticles,thata place

is made fortheinfluence of social disorganization primarily in the
settingofchildhoodexperience.The familymilieu,as it is stressed
by mostoftheauthors,and thegeneralsocialenvironment, as it is
impliedby others,mustbe disordered to someextentto occasion
in childrenthe unfortunate experienceswhichresultin neurotic
traits.The detailednatureofthisdisordered condition is notmade
clear; it seemsto consistprimarily in actionswhichare of a for-
biddingcharacter, whichthwartthechild'simpulses, andwhichlead
to wrongsatisfactions and definitions. In turn,theconditions which
mightexplainsuchconducton thepartofparentsor eldersare not
given;theimplication is merelythatsuchconductis itselfneurotic
in character.
Passingbeyondtheage ofearlychildhood, it wouldseemthatthe
subsequentroleofsocialdisorganization is merelythatofoccasion-
ing distressing experiences whichtestthe alreadyestablisheddis-
positions ofthechild.Theseexperiences maybringsuchdispositions
to a head but apparently do notimplant suchdispositions.
Theseviewsas to theinfluence passingfromsocialdisorganization
to individualstructuredeservecomment.One thingthat socio-
logicalstudiesdo pointto is thecondition ofindividuals, seemingly
well adjusted duringchildhood,who become quite disorganized
undercertainsocialconditions.I referespeciallyto the "marginal
man"in thegenericsenseofthattype.An individualwhoseemsto
have made normalsocial adjustments duringthe earlypartof his
lifemaybe placed in a situationwherehe is subjectto conflicting
socialdemandsand appealsof a fundamental sort,and suffers dis-
tressing confusion as a result.But evenmoreimportant thansuch
socialor culturalconflict is theacuteand disturbing self-conscious-
nesswhichsuchan individualmayexperience owingto thefactthat
his conception of himself is markedly disjointedfromthe actual
social statuswhichhe occupies.His view of himself,as it is ex-
pressedinhishopes,inhisambitions, in therightsand claimswhich
hebelievesto deservesocialrecognition, maybe directly at variance
withthesocialpositionhe is forcedto occupy.A disorganized per-
sonalitymaybe theresult.That distorted and neuroticemotional
experiences appearat thispointis true;I don'tbelievethattheevi-
 SOCIAL AND INDIVIDUAL DISORGANIZATION 877

dencewarrants oneto assumethattheyaremerelytheemergence of

neuroticdispositions establishedin childhood.Conditionsof great
personalstressinadolescent oradultlifemayproduce,andnotmere-
ly test,dispositionsleadingto disorder.
A further pointis suggestedby sociologicalstudies,namely,that
in suchinstancespersonaldisorganization neednothave the char-
acteroftheunconscious motivation thatwe have stressedforus in
thecase ofneurosis.The individualmayunderstand verywellthe
reasonsforhisplight;theknowledge mayevenintensify his disap-
pointmentand distress.The closingof outletsmay forcehim to
abandonhis hopes,ambitions,schemeof himself, and patternof
values. He maylose personalorientation.
Theseobservations pointto theneedforfurther studyoftherela-
tionbetweensocialandpersonaldisorganization-study directed not
so muchto tracingthe fateof neurotictendenciesestablishedin
childhoodas to revealingthe psychological characterof a social
structureand to showingthe way in which this psychological
structure, in the case of any social status,makesingression into
personalexperience.We needtoknowthefullimplications ofshared
convictionsand values; the natureof the semi-unwitting social
rhythms whichseemto constitute socialsupport;and thenatureof
thepsychological milieuas confusion entersthesesocialvaluesand
socialrhythms. We needto knowtheeffect on self-conception and
personalorganization as the individualbeginsto respondto the
disturbances in thispsychologocal milieu.The desiredknowledge
requirescollaborative effortsofpsychiatristsand sociologists.
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO