social disorganization: Meaning and Definition of

so'cial disorganiza'tion

Pronunciation: [key]
— Sociol. Sociol.
  1. disruption or breakdown of the structure of social relations and values resulting in the loss of social controls over individual and group behavior, the development of social isolation and conflict, and a sense of estrangement or alienation from the mainstream of one's culture; the condition or state of anomie.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.