The Structure of Social Consciousness

Stanislav Ivnitskiy

DefinitionSocial 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.

Stanislav Ivnitskiy

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Debates on Definition There is debate as to exactly what the term

means. Some people define social

consciousness as a society's

consciousness of itself. 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. Social consciousness

is similar to collective consciousness.

Stanislav Ivnitskiy

Types of social consciousnessStructural components of social consciousness

differ by level, form and ways of reflection of social being. Such components are ordinary and theoretical consciousness, showing 2 levels of reflection of reality – cognition of occurrence

and of essence.Ordinary consciousness appear as understanding

of everyday needs and is limited by practical conditions of life. It includes and reunions

external connections and relations of social life, but does not discover essential sides and can not

predict consequences of people activity. This level of consciousness includes experience and

different empirical knowledge, developed through the history.

But also ordinary consciousness creates conditions for theoretical consciousness. The most deep

generalizations reach the top level of consciousness and become part of science.

Stanislav Ivnitskiy

Types of social consciousness

Theoretical consciousness is a higher level of consciousness, which is characterized by

understanding of nature and social phenomenon, their interrelations. This

component of social consciousness exist in form of system of ideas, laws and so on. Theory, as

systematic consciousness, is presented by science and ideology, and ideological systems

can be scientific or not. Apart from that, theoretical consciousness is differentiated and

has gradation by deepness of penetration in sense of different order.

Ordinary and theoretical consciousness are historically necessary levels of consciousness, which are very interrelated. Borders between them change every epoch in connection with scientific progress, social changes and so on.

Stanislav Ivnitskiy

Types of social consciousnessIn sociological aspect structural components of

social consciousness are ideology, social psychology and science.

Ideology and social psychology are spiritual ways of understanding and fulfilling of interest of

different societies. There are differences between these sides of social consciousness.

Science, for example, is the result of social need in knowledge and has purpose of fulfilling these

needs. The specific of ideology is that it appears on the basis of existing in society economical relations. In class society economical relations are in form

of class interests, that is why the specific of ideology can be presented as the miracle of

reality through the prism of interests of particular classes, as system of ideas of classes.

Ideology is theoretical weapon. It is her main social function.

Stanislav Ivnitskiy

Levels of Social Consciousness

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.

There are three levels of social consciousness:

1.acquired, 2.awakened, 3.expanded.

Stanislav Ivnitskiy

1.Acquired• A subject with an acquired social

consciousness derives his or her viewpoint from the mainstream culture. 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 differences among people affect the treatment they receive within a society. This individual is not fully active in society. The person with an acquired social consciousness does not question mainstream viewpoints, and acts accordingly, without confrontation

Stanislav Ivnitskiy

2.Awakened

A subject with an awakened social consciousness explores alternatives to the dominant cultural viewpoint. 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.

Stanislav Ivnitskiy

3.ExpandedA subject with an expanded social consciousness strongly identifies with their marginalized group. 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.

Stanislav Ivnitskiy

Moral ObligationsSocial consciousness brings

moral implications. Often, people with an awakened

social consciousness become socially active. A socially conscious person tends to be empathetic

towards others regardless of race, gender, ethnicity,

disability, class, or sexual identity.

Stanislav Ivnitskiy