Collective consciousness

Collective consciousness is the shared set of beliefs, ideas, values, and attitudes that bring people in a group or society together. The term was first introduced by the French sociologist Émile Durkheim in the late 1800s. He described it as the total set of beliefs and feelings that are common to the average members of a society. Every society has some form of collective consciousness, no matter how big or small, and this shared understanding helps people know how to act, cooperate, and feel part of something larger than themselves. It explains why big groups of people can often act together like a single unit, even though each person has different personal experiences and opinions.[1]

Collective consciousness shows up in many parts of human life. In smaller communities, it can take the form of shared traditions, customs, and ceremonies, such as tribal rituals or seasonal festivals.[2] In larger, modern societies, it includes shared values like respect for laws, belief in human rights, or cultural expectations about family and work. For example, in Japan, collective consciousness often emphasizes group harmony and responsibility, while in the United States it often emphasizes individuality and personal freedom. These differences show how societies can have their own unique shared values that shape behavior.[3]

Durkheim argued that collective consciousness is necessary for social order because it provides a moral framework that keeps society stable. He explained it through two types of solidarity. Mechanical solidarity appears in traditional societies where people are very similar to one another, and collective consciousness is strong. Organic solidarity appears in modern societies, where people are more different but depend on each other through jobs and economic roles. In both cases, shared values and beliefs connect individuals to the larger group, but the way they function changes with the type of society.[1]

The idea of collective consciousness has also influenced other fields. In psychology, it is linked to how group identity and social pressure affect individuals.[4] In philosophy, Carl Jung proposed the idea of a “collective unconscious,” which refers to shared symbols and archetypes inherited by all humans.[5] In politics and history, collective consciousness has fueled movements where people recognize shared struggles or goals, such as the civil rights movement in the United States or anti-colonial movements around the world. These examples show how shared awareness can push entire societies toward change.[6][7]

Today, collective consciousness is also studied in the context of the internet and social media. Online platforms allow people to quickly form shared opinions and movements across the globe. Campaigns like #MeToo or climate change activism spread collective awareness and influence culture and even government policies.[8] At the same time, researchers warn that the internet can also create “echo chambers,” where people form separate group beliefs that may clash with one another. This shows how new technologies can both strengthen and divide collective consciousness.[9]

Some scientists even compare human collective consciousness to group behavior in animals, like birds flocking or fish swimming in schools. The difference is that in humans, it takes the form of shared ideas and culture rather than physical movement. Overall, collective consciousness is one of the most important concepts in sociology because it helps explain how societies hold together, change, and function, despite being made up of many unique individuals.[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Durkheim, Émile; Halls, Wilfred D.; Durkheim, Émile (2008). The division of labor in society (13. [Repr.] ed.). New York: Free Press. ISBN 978-0-684-83638-6.
  2. ↑ Collins, Randall (2014). Interaction ritual chains. Princeton Studies in Cultural Sociology. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-12389-9.
  3. ↑ Hofstede, Geert (2013). Culture's consequences: comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2. ed. [Nachdr.] ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage. ISBN 978-0-8039-7324-4.
  4. ↑ Turner, John C. (1991). Social influence. Mapping social psychology series. Pacific Grove, Calif: Brooks/Cole. ISBN 978-0-534-16950-3.
  5. ↑ Adler, Gerhard (1981). Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious: Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious. Collected Works of C. G. Jung Ser. Sir R. F. C. Hull (2nd ed.). Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-01833-1.
  6. ↑ Morris, Aldon D. (1986). The origins of the civil rights movement: black communities organizing for change (1. Free Press paperback ed., 12. print ed.). New York: The Free Press. ISBN 978-0-02-922130-3.
  7. ↑ Anderson, Benedict R. O'G (2016). Imagined communities: reflections on the crigin and spread of nationalism (Revised ed.). London New York: Verso. ISBN 978-1-78478-675-5.
  8. ↑ Castells, Manuel (2013). Networks of outrage and hope: social movements in the Internet age. Cambridge, UK Malden, MA: Polity. ISBN 978-0-7456-6285-5.
  9. ↑ Sunstein, Cass R. (2002). Republic.com. Princeton paperbacks (3. print., and 1. paperback print. with a new afterword ed.). Princeton, N.J. Oxford: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-09589-9.
  10. ↑ Couzin, Iain D. (2009-01-01). "Collective cognition in animal groups". Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 13 (1): 36–43. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2008.10.002. ISSN 1364-6613. PMID 19058992.
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