Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Hidden curriculum consists of the unspoken or implicit values, behaviors, and norms taught in educational institutions alongside the formal curriculum. It influences students' understanding of societal expectations without being formally assessed.
The process by which individuals internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of a given society and learn to function as members of that society.
Formal Education: Structured education that typically takes place in a school setting; it is planned, intentional, and delivered through official curricula and instruction.