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

So, what is a sociological imagination? It is to look at a personal act/issue and see how this effects the world around us (society). It is looking at the bigger picture and not just accepting the black and white of an act/issue but to question the grey areas too. C.Wright.Mills (1959) who was the pioneer in considering the sociological imagination defined it as “the vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider society.”

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

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.

Sociological Imagination is the ideology started by the American sociologist C.Wright Mills. He described sociological imagination as an understanding of social norms that people take to be natural in the society is actually abnormal. In the case of wine drinking, it seems to be an activity adults do to put them to sleep. Studies show a glass of wine before bed or during exercise helps human bodies to relax and protect one’s muscles. In other words, this is an activity of self-care that can avoid insomnia. Nonetheless, wine drinking has become a custom in the business world in several Asian countries such as Taiwan, China, Japan and Korea, which often lead to alcoholism, liver disease, or cardiovascular.

The “sociological imagination” to me is how a person connects with their environment and how they interact with their peers. Charles Wright Mills wrote this work to inform people about the relationship between society and individual people. This theory has to do with how different scenarios and outcomes come from a person’s surroundings throughout life. A person’s “sociological imagination” shapes who they are to become. Growing up I have always been interested in playing and watching sports. My favorite thing to do is watch the Olympics whether it is the Summer or Winter Olympics. On September 5th, 1997, the day after I was born, the decision to where the 2004 Summer Olympics was chosen. Athens, Greece would be the set location.

People now, feel that their personal lives become contain a lot of difficulties and have some of the problems. Normal people are eager to job and their family. Neither the life of a person nor the historical backdrop of a general public can be comprehended without comprehension both. People not only need skills or information but they are also need the quality of mind that will help them to use this information and skills. The writer defines “the sociological imagination” as empowers its owner to comprehend the historical scene as far as its importance for the internal life and outer profession of an assortment of people. The lesson of the sociology which encapsulates sociological imagination is the real thought that the individual can comprehend

Sociological Imagination is a significant concept identified by C. Wright Mills, who defined it as the, “…capacity to range from the most impersonal and remote transformations to the most intimate features of the human self-and to see the most intimate features of the human self-and to see the relationship between the two” (Steckley 2017, 9). It enables us to view social issues such as racism and poverty through a broader lens, by considering the individual’s circumstances before naming the causes.

The first part of this chapter illustrates the basics of sociology and describes the social structures as an important part of understanding society. According to Gould and Lewis, social structures are norms that are not directly stated in society and create basic set of rules that individuals follow, depending on the norms he/she believes in. One has to adapt into society and its norms in order to socialize with others. Agencies are implemented in society by choices one makes according to what he or she thinks is what they want to be recognized as depending on the effort they put in. An individual creates their unique personalities and behaviors according to socialization, which are interactions with others that helps develop individual characteristics.

Sociology is the study of society and social life. Unlike other social sciences, sociology is largely concerned with studying groups of humans, rather than solely focusing on the individual. The science itself developed from the 18th century period of the Enlightenment. During this period, the importance of legitimate human reasoning was emphasised rather than the previous importance based around blind faith and obedience, and encouraged scientific thinking. [Macionis, J + Plumber, K, 2002: 17] Comte was the first philosopher to develop the term sociology. He believed that the function of the social world could be understood through scientific facts. Throughout this essay, the sociological theories of functionalism, marxism and action theory will be discussed in terms of how these link to sociological concepts such as socialisation, stratification and social order and ultimately how these would influence the relationship between the individual and society.

Sociological imagination is the use of one’s ingenuity to idealize and understand the links between the dynamics of society and the personal life of that person. It’s mainly the connection between experience and its relations to society. Sociology is the study of human behavior and society. Therefore, sociologists ask questions regarding the dynamics of human behavior or what causes humans to behave the way they do. Because sociology is the study of behavior, there technically is no computable data, rather sociologists use ‘sociological imagination’ to compare the behavior of humans amongst society. In medical sociology, sociologists mainly research on how factors of society affect individual health care, or the social grounds of illness in society. They consider factors like, relationships, ethnic and class inequalities related to their access to treatments and health care opportunities. After the research, sociologists look into policy formation among individual, neighborhood and societal levels. On a macro level, (societal) policies allow improvements along all sectors of society, not just on an individual scale such as problems within relationships or between communities. These types of policies require more involvement and the allocation of public resources, they are greatly reputable in terms of helping the greater good. Some examples of studies in medical sociology include, ethnic and racial inequalities in health, social relationships affect health and on a macro