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.

Predominantly, the idea of addiction falls under the sociological concept of deviance. Research has identified drug use predominantly as a problem of young males, whereas prescription drug use is principally a problem of middle-aged and older women (Adrian, 2003). According to the sociological idea of conformity, individuals who are around others who misuse substances or use them illegally will eventually give in and follow the norm their social group has initiated and partake in addictive substance use. Hence, because of sociological research, it is evident that drug use and abuse and addictions are a deviant behavior that individuals have learned through the idea of conformity and following an idea popular in an individual’s culture or

Introduction - Use of psychoactive substances for recreational purposes is not a radically new social issue. In fact, history tells us that almost every society had their own pharmacopeia of herbs, potions, and substances that not only contributed to healing, but also allowed the user to escape reality (Schules 1992, 4-5). However, it is the contemporary use of psychoactive drugs purchased through illicit or illegal channels and used by persons neither prescribed nor in quantities larger than necessary that defines modern drug abuse (Robins 2006). Prior to World War I, substances like morphine, heroin, and cocaine were available in the major American cities, particularly those with active international ports. For instance, when Chinese immigrants were first imported to work in the mines and railroads during the early 1800s, they brought opium to America. It was the leisure class, who began to experiment with this drug, and, as in Europe, many major U.S. cities had so-called opium dens. In addition, there were a substantial number of "society women" who ended up addicted because their doctor prescribed this drug to deal with female histrionics or to "cure" an excessive sexual appetite (Johnson 2002). Within major cities, this problem began to spill over into other groups: prostitutes, child laborers, orphans, and even men and women of lower social classes seeking to escape the harshness of their lives (Courtwright 2002, 3-19). Between the widespread use and general

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

To gain a well rounded analysis, we look to other studies which emphasise the enduring strength of barriers – peer pressure, parental attachment, personal value systems – that keep most young people from associating with a culture in which familiarity with drugs is ‘normal '. The idea behind this argument is that drug use is in fact far from the norm, young drug users hold the same values as that of wider society and they only take drugs because they are trying to neutralise the guilt that has resulted from engaging in a behaviour they know is ultimately wrong. With this argument in mind, one could argue that it is up to the criminal justice system to help regulate illegal drug use because young people are aware that what they are doing is wrong and carry on doing so because they already feel guilty about breaking societal values. As plausible as this argument may seem, such an interpretation is simplistic in that it makes assumptions that those who take drugs perceive it to be wrong, instead they may just feel guilt because of the existing societal sanctions that are in place and not because they are breaking so called 'societal values '. Having said this, there are also other studies which support the findings of the NWELS. South argues that "the ‘normalisation of drug use’ reflects society’s undeniable awareness of drugs issues; for example, drugs education and prevention efforts indicate that these substances are no longer perceived as exceptional and remote but as

Use of psychoactive substances for recreational purposes is not a radically new social issue. In fact, history tells us that almost every society had their own pharmacopeia of herbs, potions, and substances that not only contributed to healing, but also allowed the user to escape reality (Schules 1992, 4-5). However, it is the contemporary use of psychoactive drugs purchased through illicit or illegal channels and used by persons neither prescribed nor in quantities larger than necessary that defines modern drug abuse (Robins 2006). Prior to World War I, substances like morphine, heroin, and cocaine were available in the major American cities, particularly those with active international ports. For instance, when Chinese immigrants were first imported to work in the mines and railroads during the early 1800s, they brought opium to America. It was the leisure class, who began to experiment with this drug, and, as in Europe, many major U.S. cities had so-called opium dens. In addition, there were a substantial number of "society women" who ended up addicted because their doctor prescribed this drug to deal with female histrionics or to "cure" an excessive sexual appetite (Johnson 2002). Within major cities, this problem began to spill over into other groups: prostitutes, child laborers, orphans, and even men and women of lower social classes seeking to escape the harshness of their lives (Courtwright 2002, 3-19). Between the widespread use and general

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.

Illicit drug use is a major problem in Australian culture as a recent study in 2012 by the United Nations has concluded that Australia has the highest rate of recreational drug users in the world (Toohey,2012). An Illicit drug can be defined as “the non-medical use of a variety of drugs which include: amphetamine- type stimulants, cannabis, cocaine, heroin and other opioids, and MDMA (ecstasy) (Hall W, Ross J, Lynskey M, Law M, Degenhardt L.,2000). Australian Governments on all levels including non-governments have been trying to fight this illicit drug problem

Laws and norms change over time within different societies, it is an ever changing field that needs to be addressed as issues arise. History shows that there was a rapid change in the societal norm surrounding drug use from tolerance to intolerance around the late nineteenth century. Once this form of social control, the enforcement of these norms in this instance formally through law, sociologists believed that ‘…drug laws and their enforcement, may be more harmful than the drug use itself’ (Goode, 2007).

This leads to an increase in criminal activity such as neglect of familial duties, robberies to fund their dependency, and violence to defend their habits. The ‘drugee’ becomes a nuisance to society. Some become homeless and exhibit poor health habits such as malnutrition and tooth decay. Other negative effects include the transference of diseases because of needle sharing. Though drug use is a personal choice, the effects on the rest of society are undeniable. The best intentions are formulated on a personal level, but this is overcastted by its negative effects. This argument, however, is a bit one-sided because the reason for using and dependency varies between users.

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

The major trend of the American hippie movement from the 1960s had a major influence on the way New Zealand used drugs and how international trends still influence drug use today. Drug use patterns in New Zealand are very similar to other countries in the western world but also shows how some popular trends of ‘Hard Drugs’ did not become a huge problem due to the isolation of New Zealand and how hard it was to bring in illegal drugs such as heroin. How international trends and ideals reach New Zealand show how easy it is to influence a large percentage of a population to try drugs, legal or not. The ideals of rebellion highlights the use of drugs because of the moral values and rules set by mainstream society and the government. It is and was an easy way to reject mainstream rules if you didn’t want to live by them. The 1960s created a culture of mass following that rejected mainstream life and rules that promoted peace and love making the use of drugs morally okay because that is what they believed. As society moved on from hippie culture it introduced drugs that were highly addictive and dangerous, in comparison to the drugs that were widely used in the 60s and early 70s LSD and Marijuana have been the safest drugs to use. Popular culture that grew in the 70s and 80s were punk and rock that are easily recognised with being linked to drugs. Rebellious ideals became popular as it went against mainstream society but also made a ‘bad guy’ seem cool. This