Free Sociology resources

The collective consciousness of society is the shared set of values or beliefs that people have. For functionalists, this is achieved through successful socialisation through family, education and other institutions and ensures that society functions properly and is able to change organically and in an orderly way. This is central to their idea of social consensus while conflict theorists are more likely to see it in terms of a dominant ideology or hegemony that secures the interests of a powerful group.