Dysconsciousness
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A state of impaired or distorted consciousness or awareness, especially in regards to social issues. uncountable
"Dysconsciousness is an uncritical habit of mind (including perceptions, attitudes, assumptions, and beliefs) that justifies inequity and exploitation by accepting the existing order of things as given. If, as Heaney (1984) suggests, critical consciousness "involves an ethical judgement [sic]" about the social order, dysconsciousness accepts it uncritically."
Example
More examples"Dysconsciousness is an uncritical habit of mind (including perceptions, attitudes, assumptions, and beliefs) that justifies inequity and exploitation by accepting the existing order of things as given. If, as Heaney (1984) suggests, critical consciousness "involves an ethical judgement [sic]" about the social order, dysconsciousness accepts it uncritically."
Etymology
From dys- + consciousness or dysconscious + -ness. Coined by academic Joyce Elaine King in 1991 (see quotation).
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.