Social consciousness

Social consciousness

Social consciousness is consciousness shared within a society. It can also be defined as social awareness; to be aware of the problems that different societies and communities face on a day-to-day basis; to be conscious of the difficulties and hardships of society.

Debate

There is debate as to exactly what the term means. Some people define social consciousness as a society's consciousness of itself. [http://www.angelfire.com/md2/timewarp/consciousness.html] Others argue against this definition, saying that society does not have a mind of its own, and therefore is not conscious: rather, the people that make up society are individually conscious. [http://www.bopsecrets.org/CF/social.consciousness1.htm] Social consciousness is similar to collective consciousness.

Theory

Many studies have been done to examine the roots of social consciousness. It is believed to arise as a response to social injustice experienced by the individual or in the lives of others around the individual. [http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2005-09391-004&site=ehost-live] There are three levels of social consciousness: acquired, awakened, and expanded.

Acquired

A subject with an acquired social consciousness derives his or her viewpoint from the mainstream culture. [http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2005-09391-004&site=ehost-live] This individual avoids identifying himself or herself with a marginalized culture. This individual generally is either not aware of or does not acknowledge the way that differences among people affect the way that they are treated within society. The individual is not fully active in society. The person with an acquired social consciousness does not question mainstream viewpoints, and acts accordingly, without confrontation.

Awakened

A subject with an awakened social consciousness explores alternatives to the dominant cultural viewpoint. [http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2005-09391-004&site=ehost-live] This person might identify with a marginalized group, but the mainstream culture is central to his or her questioning or exploration. The subject recognizes and challenges social injustice. The person actively resists power and authority. The focus of discontent and action is often over the right to be visible, to have choice, or to be self-determining.

Expanded

A subject with an expanded social consciousness strongly identifies with their marginalized group. [http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2005-09391-004&site=ehost-live] This person views status as a continuously changing social construct, thus viewing responses as a lifelong process. This individual has an understanding of the complexity of the social hierarchy, and acts carefully after weighing both sides.

Implications

Social consciousness brings moral implications. Often, people with an awakened social consciousness become socially active. [http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2005-09391-004&site=ehost-live] A socially conscious person tends to be empathetic towards others regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, disability, class, or sexual identity.


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