Tocqueville effect

proper noun

The phenomenon that, as social conditions and opportunities improve, social frustration grows more quickly.

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Meanings

proper nounthe Tocqueville effect
  1. The phenomenon that, as social conditions and opportunities improve, social frustration grows more quickly.

Origin

Based on Alexis de Tocqueville's observations on the French Revolution and other reforms.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Tocqueville effect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Tocqueville%20effect

MLA

“Tocqueville effect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Tocqueville%20effect. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Tocqueville effect,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Tocqueville%20effect.

Source: Tocqueville effect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.