Loneliness, in the context of the individualization debate, is a psych
osocial problem that is increasingly discussed in public and investiga
ted empirically. In comparisons between the system of the former GDR (
communistic) and that in the ''old'' FRG (democratic), differences in
loneliness were always perceived in such a way that a warm, solidarist
ic, protective society stood in contrast to a cold, egoistical, compet
itive, consumer and achievement oriented society. With a representativ
e sample from both Germanies (East and West) (N = 592), this psychomet
ric study compares the levels of loneliness in East and West German so
ciodemographic groups. It suggests that in July 1991 West Germans were
significantly lonelier than East Germans and that the loneliness expe
rienced by the East Germans was more homogeneous. Further, this study
examines the current state of the prevailing loneliness in both, East
and West Germany and summarizes the central theoretical and methodolog
ical aspects of research on loneliness.