Group consciousness (political science)

Group consciousness refers to the way people in a particular group think and feel about certain things. Think of it like a group of friends who all like the same TV show - they might talk about it a lot and have similar opinions on the characters and storylines.

Now imagine that instead of liking a TV show, the group is a political party or movement. They have a shared set of beliefs and values, which they use as a guide for making decisions and interacting with the world around them. For example, a group might believe that everyone should have access to healthcare, and they might work towards making this a reality through lobbying, protests, or other forms of activism.

Group consciousness can also affect how people perceive their own identity. If you're part of a group that you feel strongly connected to, you might be more likely to see yourself as part of that group rather than an individual with individual goals and desires. This can be helpful in promoting solidarity and working towards common goals, but it can also be limiting if it leads to a narrow-minded or exclusionary view of the world outside the group.

Overall, group consciousness is an important concept in political science because it helps us understand how social groups form and influence political decisions and actions. By studying group consciousness, we can better understand why people join certain groups and how those groups impact society as a whole.