"Marx s theory of alienation is a non-psychological concept and has to do with the relation of the worker to the means of production--- it has nothing to do with how one feels. What indicators would you use to assess whether you were alienated or not? What conclusion would you come to?"

Marx s theory of alienation is based on the relationship of the worker to the means of production. It outlines four main aspects in which workers are alienated in today s society: alienated from the products of their labor, alienated from the process of work, denied the ability to be creative, and physically alienated from other people. Although Marx developed this theory in 1844 it is, in fact, even more applicable in today s mass production, developed society.

In order to assess whether I was alienated or not, I would use indicators relevant to each of the four categories espoused in Marx s original theory. Additionally, surveys are frequently performed in the area of job satisfaction; I would also use their indicators to determine whether I was alienated or not.

A series of University of Michigan studies, involving interviews with a sample of employed people, found that several key areas were deemed important in a job. This survey attempted to determine those attributes that can be found in the ideal job; the results typically can be mapped into the four areas of alienation that Marx defined: work that is interesting enough (ability to be creative); enough help, equipment, information, and authority to get the job done (the process of work); an opportunity to develop one s special abilities (ability to be creative); the opportunity to see the results of one s work (products of labor); good pay; and job security.

By answering these questions myself, I can use them as indicators of my own level of alienation, I can assess my job satisfaction level. Additionally, I could use other indicators to assess whether I was alienated or not. One of these would be to ask myself how often, and how hard, I looked for other employment. Another indicator I would use is, if I could start all over, would I choose a similar job in the same field.

An honest assessment would be that I exercise a degree of creativity, do not have as much control over the process of work as I would like (not enough resources, authority, poor environmental conditions), and see the products of my labor few and far between. In fact, the only area in which I felt relatively content was the issue of pay / rewards for my labor. The question of physical isolation did not come up; in fact I could argue that there are too many people around vice the opposite.

The other indicators would be answered in a similarly depressing manner. I do frequently look for other jobs and contemplate switching careers slightly, remaining in the general field of technology but changing my role. According to Marx and the indicators I used, I have a high degree of alienation, countered only by my relatively high degree of satisfaction with my salary.

I would argue that, to a large extent, this is probably the depressing norm even in today s post-industrial society. Alienation is an accepted part of work; people focus solely on meeting their immediate material desires. One could argue that in Maslow s hierarchy of needs, we are still struggling to fulfill the first three levels while accepting alienation as our due. Society looks enviously upon those few lucky individuals who have jobs that not only fulfill their needs for material necessities, security, belonging, and esteem, but also help them to develop their highest level of potential.

One could argue that alienation is self inflicted by each and every one of us. Perhaps the perfect job is out there for everyone; alienation is only suffered when you have a bad fit . Who hasn t talked about quitting their job to write that best-selling novel or to open that groovy book store come coffee shop? Perhaps we allow our materialism (fed and nourished in the industrial world) to subjugate our dreams. Caught up in the new mores and values of the post-industrial, consumer oriented society, we place higher emphasis on fitting in with society than we do on fulfilling our own personal wants and needs. We suffer alienation so that we can possess status items such as BMWs and TAG watches, and thus sell our dreams to the highest bidder.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hodson, Randy & Teresa Sullivan, The Social Organization of Work, 2nd ed., Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1995.

Neubeck, Kenneth J., Social Problems: A Critical Approach, 3rd ed., New York: McGraw-Hill Inc., 1991.

Stark, Randy, Sociology, Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1985.