Perception of Anomie in Salvadoran Urban Population: Pessimism, Bewilderment and Isolation

Abstract

The perception of anomie constitutes an expectable alienation expression in contexts characterized by exclusion, vital uncertainty or normative weakness, such as the current Salvadoran society. Within a survey-based research framework, the perception of anomie was explored in a representative sample of older than 15 years of age inhabitants of the San Salvador Metropolitan Area (SSMA). The measurement of perceived anomie developed from the refinement of two classic anomy scales that resulted in a definitive 13-item scale. The obtained scale is internally consistent (? = .71) and has a clear three-dimensional factorial structure (pessimism, bewilderment and isolation) that accounted for 44.20% of the variance. The main results showed high levels of perception of anomie in SMMA´s inhabitants but statistically higher levels among those with worse socioeconomic situation and educational instruction or among those unemployed. The general construct correlates with variables of victimization and insecurity (e.g., gangs are problem in the neighborhood, have or want a firearm for protection) and political culture (e.g., political inefficacy, eroded sense of community), variables that corroborate an association between perceived anomie and experiences of threat and social and institutional detachment. A multiple linear regression model constituted of seven variables was obtained using the insecurity and political culture correlates aforementioned that explained 33% of the variance of the perception of anomie. The discussion highlights the fulfillment of the exploratory objective of the study and the convergence among the central findings and the theoretical and empirical backgrounds on the subject found elsewhere. Likewise, the reinforcing link that seems to exist between the perception of anomie and the right-wing authoritarianism, the main predictor of the perception of anomie according to the estimated linear regression model. Conclusions suggest taking distance from functionalist and uncritical approaches when studying the phenomena, acknowledge the necessity to transcend the exploratory scope of the study, offer some general suggestions for future investigative endeavors that, in addition, can consolidate the proposed measure of perception of anomie, and highlight the relevance of social subjectivity and its consequences on concrete reality.