"Outline the main features of the 'sociological imagination'. Using an example, demonstrate its value to the study of social life."

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Sociology 111

Essay 1: Sociological Imagination

Due Date: Friday April 2, 5:00pm

“Outline the main features of the ‘sociological imagination’. Using an example, demonstrate its value to the study of social life.”

Name: Rebecca Proctor

Student Number: 0433640

Tutor: Brigid Thompson

Workshop: Tuesday 10am

             

                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     


 Relationships between personal troubles of an individual, and the private issues of a society, are the main features of the sociological imagination. The connections between biography, history and society play an important role. The sociological imagination gives a reflective view, of what is happening in the world and explains the relationship of an individual in a society. It adds value to the study of social life by being able to critique taken-for-granted assumptions and asks questions to view these assumptions in a new way. The use of applying the sociological imagination can be seen in the study of everyday life and increases the understanding of an individual’s placement in society. A strong indication of this reflexive relationship is demonstrated by exploring the procedure of divorce.

A reflexive process between personal troubles and the public issues is the main defining feature of the sociological imagination. Showing how individuals are placed in a society and how that society simultaneously affects the individual, helps in the understanding of the formation of social structure. Mills stated that, personal troubles become public issues, needing attention from political and economic organizations not just personal judgments from the individual (Mills: 1959, p14). He saw this as the main characteristic of a sociological imagination. A personal trouble, such as divorce, affects the individual on a personal level causing grief and stress. Divorce rates become a public issue when increased, it s, affecting political and economic aspects of society and indirectly affecting individuals through policies and laws, in which they must obey. This idea is a reflexive process, meaning that one cannot occur without the other. Willis (1999, p20) illustrates that acting reflexively is important in the search for a sociological imagination, adding value to the study of social life by giving a broader view of how the individual relates to society.  This relationship can be observed by examining the reflexive connections of biography, history and society in more depth.

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By the use of a sociological imagination, the connection between biography and history help to describe how the individual fits into, and structures society. The collaborative process of an individual’s personal life and their biography essentially adds to society’s foundation. If everybody, on an individual level, had an idea, it would slowly become an idea of that society. Over time if that idea were to change, the previous idea would be seen as history, from which the new idea has been formed. Therefore, history has impacted upon the way individual ideas are expressed and affect social structure. It is ...

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