Durkheim characterized the modern individual as suffering from social norms that are weak or often contradictory.  Durkheim defines anomie as a condition of relative normlessness in a whole society or in one of its component groups.  When these social regulations break down the controlling influence on individual desires and interests is ineffective; individuals are left to their own devices.  Without normative regulation and moral guidance, deviance and stress are the result.

Durkheim identifies two major causes of anomie: the division of labor, and rapid social change.  Both of these are, of course, associated with modernity.  In the literature the focus tends to be on rapid change experienced by individuals either up or down the social structure.  Here let us focus again on the division of labor.  The individual in modern society is confronted with a variety of groups that have different values and goals, each of which competes for the individual’s allegiance. 

A key point of Durkheim's concept of anomie is this: An increasing division of labor weakens the sense of identification within the wider community and weakens social constraints on human behavior.  These conditions lead to social "dis-integration" -high rates of egocentric behavior, norm violation, and consequent delegitimation and distrust of authority.  In the final analysis Durkheim's whole sociology revolves around this issue. 

His is not a straight-line evolutionary theory, however.  In his conception, anomie and unrestrained egoism are as harmful to the individual as they are to the sociocultural system, and institutions (and individuals) react to the social disorders that result.  Durkheim believed that the functional needs of society necessitate the emergence of new forms of social integration.  Even modern sociocultural systems with a high degree of a division of labor still need a common faith, a common collective conscience to integrate people into the society.