Ideology

Throughout this course, unless indicated otherwise (see figure below), this term is used to mean a “style of thought” or a system of ideas and concepts which may or may not be cogent and correct, but which color world views and shape behavior. The term, therefore, is used in the Parsonian neutral sense (that is, as an internally consistent cognitive system, albeit not necessarily a valid system). Consequently, it must be distinguished from the Marxian usage of the term (the antithesis of “true” political consciousness), as well as the positivist usage (the antithesis of “true” social science). 

In the figure below are examples of ideologies--in this case ideologies of oppression as the antithesis of political consciousness.