Which term describes the condition in which the individual is isolated from society, work, and sense of self?

• A. Alienation
• B. False Consciousness
• C. Class Consciousness
• D. Myth of Meritocracy

Answer: (A)

Alienation describes the condition where a person feels estranged from their surroundings, their work, and even their sense of self. In sociology, especially in Marxist thought, this occurs when workers do not control the means of production or the products of their labor, so their work becomes separate from their own humanity. When someone feels cut off from society, disconnected from the tasks they perform, and detached from who they are, that aligns with the classic experience of alienation. The other terms refer to different misperceptions or recognitions about social relations: false consciousness is about misunderstanding one's true position in society, class consciousness is awareness of one’s class and collective interest, and the myth of meritocracy is the belief that outcomes are solely the result of individual merit. None of these capture the sense of isolation from society, work, and self in the way alienation does.