Loneliness as a Symptom of Broken Belonging

Research Focus

We explore the sociological roots of loneliness. We argue that modern isolation is a systemic failure rather than a personal psychological defect, resulting from a shift toward individualized responsibility. By using the Indigenous Australian principle of Kanyini as a diagnostic tool, we illustrate how ancient relational structures once provided guaranteed belonging and continuity. We also suggest that contemporary society has replaced enduring obligation with optional connections, leaving individuals to manufacture their own meaning in isolation. Our work frames loneliness as a critical signal that the essential architectures of care and ancestral transition have been dismantled.