What term describes the condition of being estranged or disassociated from one's surrounding society?

The term that describes the condition of being estranged or disassociated from one's surrounding society is alienation. Alienation refers to the feeling of powerlessness, meaninglessness, and social isolation that individuals may experience as a result of societal structures or their own personal circumstances. This disconnection can manifest in various ways, such as feeling disconnected from friends, family, or community, or feeling as though one's contributions to society are unrecognized or undervalued.

In sociological contexts, alienation can arise in industrial societies where individuals may feel like mere cogs in a machine, leading to a sense of separation not only from the products of their labor but also from their own human potential. This concept is prominently discussed in the works of Karl Marx, who viewed alienation as a consequence of capitalist labor relations, emphasizing how individuals can become estranged from their work, society, and themselves.

Other options, while related to themes of separation and disconnection, emphasize different nuances. For example, marginalization refers to the process by which certain groups are pushed to the edges of society, isolation focuses on the state of being alone or apart from others, and segregation specifically involves the enforced separation of different racial or social groups. However, alienation captures the broader feeling of