Analysis Of The Sociological Imagination

Exercising: Exercising is not only beneficial for the individual engaging in it, but for the whole society. Exercising is scientifically proven to lower disease and improve happiness. When a society is more happy they engage in more positive behavior. A society that is more engaged will more likely advocate for justice and the well being of others.

Sociological imagination is a concept that was defined in 1959 by American sociologist C. Wright Mills. He described it as an awareness of the relationship between a person’s behavior and experience and the wider culture that shaped the person’s choice and perceptions. It helps us relate our own experiences to others. Sociological imagination can help us understand the difference between personal troubles and public issues by determining if it is a problem in someone’s own history or if it is an issue in the society or culture’s history.

Throughout this essay the sociological imagination is used to analyse the historical, cultural and structural reasons for drug use and abuse. Within this parameter the sociological imagination is applied, using studies research conducted in the United Kingdom, Australia, Russia and the United States. The sociological imagination was defined by Charles Write Mills as a ‘quality of mind’. (Mills quoted by Germov, Poole 2007: 4 ) It is stimulated by an awareness to view the social world by looking at how one’s own personal problems and experiences form a relationship to the wider society. In Victorian society the majority of people believed there was no ‘drug problem.' (Berridge, 1999) The substances used in Britain at the time like opium

The occupational future I plan is to provide a service that helps teen parents and their children get an education. My goal is to change the statistics that are against teen parents and to stop the social stigma placed on them. Why would I choose to help teen parents? How could I have such a specific goal and occupational interest at the age of 18? The answer lies within my sociological imagination. A sociological imagination is the understanding of a broader historical background within an individual that affects the social outcome of an individual (1959 Mills). It is important to understand the sociological imagination because one can find the cause of an effect within the sociological imagination.

According to C. Wright Mills, the sociological imagination is when an individual views his society as the potential cause for his daily successes and failures. Individuals often tend to view their personal issues as social problems and try to connect their individual experiences with the workings of society. Mills believes that this is the way for individuals to gain an understanding of their personal dilemmas. The sociological imagination helps people connect their own problems with public problems and their history. In order for an individual to figure out the causes of their problems, they first have to be able to understand the causes of the problems in the society in which they are living in. The sociological imagination tries to

Wright Mills once said that sociologists need to develop a sociological imagination to study how society affects individuals. The definition of sociological imagination by Mills, is “the vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider society.” (1996-2016 LoveToKnow, Corp). Sociological imagination is the ability to understand how your own past relates to that of other people, as well as to history in general and societal structures in particular (, 2013, p. ). During my Sociological Imagination Project, I chose to spend 2 hours at Pat Hurley park and observe and analyze with the eyes of a sociologist. While at the park I was looking for social patterns in people’s behaviors. In order to see the social patterns, I needed to identify similarities in how social groups respond to social pressure. During my micro-level analysis of the small groups and individual interactions. I noticed a variety of patterns that existed which were race, gender, aging, family, class, and culture.

As cliché as it sounds, Dr. Seuss was right. “There is no one alive that is youer than you.” From a sociological persepective, this is also “truer than true”. As individuals we are cultured and moleded by our society from the moment we are born. Every society, although there may be similiarities, will also have many differences due to the influence of its history and individuals. The history and individuals, are also in turn, influenced by its society. That is why it is important in the furthering of understanding a society, to observe it through the eyes of an outsider.

The concept of “sociological imagination” is one that can be explained many different ways. A simple way to think of the sociological imagination is to see it as a way a person thinks, where they know that what they do from day to day in their private lives (like the choices they make), are sometimes influenced by the larger environment in which they live (Mills 1959, 1). What C.W. Mills meant by this concept is that it is the ability to “understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals” (1959, 3). In other words, the concept of sociological imagination is the ability to realize that the choices people make and their personal environments are often

For decades, there have been many questions that sociologists generally ask themselves when examining a social phenomenon. One well known sociologist is C. Wright Mills. Mills came up with the concept of sociological imagination. It is used to describe the ability of individuals to think away from routines that they are used to in everyday life and look at them from an entirely new perspective. Using this concept, mills applied it to asking and answering imaginative thoughts of sociological questions. Mills came up with three questions that many thinkers have consistently asked in their investigations of humanity and society. The three questions are what is the structure of this particular society as a whole? , where does this society stand in human history? , and what varieties of men and women now prevail in this society and in this period?. Moreover, one social phenomenon that can explain how these questions help focus one’s social imagination is crime.

Sociological imagination is merely the connection between a person and the society. Every person is connected to and influenced by society to a different extent. Some people are completely absorbed in society and feel obligated to keep up with the trends, or else they feel like an outlier. On the other hand, some people do not keep up with the trends of society because they could care less about others opinions. Sociological imagination can be used to show the relationship between both those types of people and the society, and it can be used to explain how people view society from their point of view. When people look at societies from an outsider’s point of view, “rather than only from the perspective of personal experiences and cultural biases” (Schaefer 4), they are able to notice the things that shape and mold their character. The outsider perspective also provides them with a better understanding of themselves by understanding the relationship between them and society.

Occasionally everyone has suffered from depression, weather it was long term or short term. Feeling hopelessness, irritablity, or feeling anxious or “empty” these symptoms can greatly effect people’s daily routines. Suddenly, waking up in the morning, trying to fall asleep or simply interacting with other people becomes one of the most difficult challenges. Depression can be cause by many things such as financial issues, relationship problems, family problems or an individual just may not be happy. Although, if this person uses their social imagination it may be a little easier for them to cope with their depression. Looking at their problems in a more general perspective helps them realize they are not alone and these are daily problems

“Sociological Imagination,” by Charles Wright Mills is a book about the linkage of an individual’s biography to public issues and world history. Mills creates a concept that allows one to view where their presence is in society. The whole point is to evaluate the larger things that lead one to where they are now. Using the correlation between society and yourself allows one to view your issues as society’s issues. Education is among these issues that can be traced as a social issue. Moreover, my education achievements can be traced back before I was born.

Social Imagination is described as an awareness of the relationship between a person’s behavior and experiences and the wider culture that shaped the person’s choices and perceptions; it helps us to see ours and other people’s behavior in relation to history and social structure (OpenStax). C. Wright “Mills thought that sociology can show us that society – not our own foibles and failings – is responsible for many of our problems. He argued that one of the main tasks of sociology was to transform personal problems into public and political issues” (Isaksen). Mills argued that people do not have 100% control over how their lives will turn out. He contends that if society is successful, then it is highly expected that

The human attitudes have always been a curiosity that captivated most of the great social theorists like Karl Marx, Engels and Durkheim. One of the most unhumble attitude of the humanity was Racism and stereotyping.

The sociological imagination can be related to experiences of individuals along with life in society. There are three main characteristics that come along with the sociological imagination, those being; history, social structure, as well as biography. In addition, to C.Wright Mills concepts of the sociological imagination, we enable ourselves in society to now have a better understanding of not only ourselves but also others through a sense of linking personal experiences. Due to some of the circumstances in my life, the key sociological factors that have occurred are education, gender, and inequality. These factors have allowed me to fully understand what the sociological imagination is and how it plays a part in my everyday life experiences.