Final answer:
False consciousness leads to the working class adopting the ideology of the dominant bourgeoisie, preventing them from challenging their societal roles and keeping them alienated. Marx proposed that the proletariat must develop class consciousness to recognize their collective strength and initiate social change.
Step-by-step explanation:
False consciousness is a term used by Karl Marx to describe a state in which the working class, or proletariat, in a capitalist society, are misled to believe in and adopt the ideology of the bourgeoisie—the dominant class that owns the means of production. This ideology includes notions such as valuing competition over cooperation and perceiving hard work as a rewarding end in itself, beliefs that serve to reinforce the status quo and reduce the likelihood of the working class questioning their societal roles or assuming collective responsibility for existing conditions.
This phenomenon contributes to the alienation of workers from their labor, from the products of their labor, and from fellow workers, who are seen as competition rather than comrades. By selling their labor, workers also begin to view others as commodities, thereby becoming alienated from humanity itself. This mindset not only perpetuates their exploitation but also detracts from the development of class consciousness—the awareness of their shared experience and position within the economic structure of society—which Marx believed was necessary for initiating social change and overcoming the alienation intrinsic to capitalist societies.
To counter false consciousness, Marx proposed that the proletariat must transition from being a 'class in itself' to a 'class for itself', which implies an active and self-aware participation in the struggle for social improvements and changes within society. Once individuals recognize their collective strength and common interests, they are more likely to band together to demand the changes needed for an equitable society.