"Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both." 1
The above is a quote from sociologist C. Wright Mills. We are a part of the society we live in, so is it truly possible to separate our actions, behaviors, and motivations from society?
C. Wright Mills didn't think so - he claimed that we should look at both our life and wider society. Let's read more about why he said this by studying the sociological imagination. In this explanation:
- We'll start by defining the sociological imagination.
- Next, we'll discuss examples of how a sociological imagination can be used.
- We'll then look at C. Wright Mills's 1959 book The Sociological Imagination in more detail.
- We'll consider a summary of the three elements of the sociological imagination.
- Lastly, we'll consider the difference between the sociological imagination and sociological perspectives.
Let's get started!
The Sociological Imagination: a Definition
Let's look at a definition of the term 'sociological imagination' coined in 1959 by C. Wright Mills, a leading sociologist.
Having a sociological imagination means having an objective awareness of the relationship between individuals and wider society.
How can we do this objectively?
Mills advocates viewing society not as a member of society, but from the perspective of an outsider. When we do this, we can understand how and why people may behave the way they do because we eliminate personal experiences, biases, and cultural factors.
By using the sociological imagination, we can better explore the connection between personal troubles and public issues.
The Distinction Between Personal Troubles and Public Issues
In order to understand the relationship between personal and public issues, we need to know what we mean by them.
Personal Troubles in the Sociological Imagination
Personal troubles are problems that are experienced privately by an individual and by those around them.
An example of this is when an individual suffers from an undiagnosed physical condition.
Public Issues in the Sociological Imagination
Public issues exist beyond the personal control of an individual and their life. Such issues exist on a societal level.
An example is where healthcare facilities are poorly funded, leading to difficulties in diagnosis and medical assistance.
Fig. 1 - Mills advocates viewing society not as a member of society, but from the perspective of an outsider. Examples of a Sociological Imagination
If you're unfamiliar with this concept, we can look at some examples of a sociological imagination. This involves looking at hypothetical scenarios where we demonstrate how to think about issues using a sociological imagination.
Understanding Daily Behavior Using a Sociological Imagination
Whilst we may not think twice about doing something ordinary, such as having breakfast, it can be analyzed using different social contexts and perspectives. For example:
Regularly having breakfast each morning can be considered a ritual or tradition, especially if you have it at a particular time or with certain people, e.g. family.
Choosing to pair breakfast with an 'acceptable' breakfast beverage, e.g. tea, coffee, or juice, shows that we follow norms and avoid socially questionable choices, such as alcohol or soda with breakfast (however, a mimosa is considered to be acceptable in the context of brunch!).
What we choose to eat for breakfast may show our dedication to good health and consumption of healthy vitamins and supplements.
If we go out for breakfast with a friend or co-worker, it can be seen as an expression of social bonding or activity as we're likely to also socialize. A good example of this is a breakfast business meeting.
Understanding Marriage and Relationships Using a Sociological Imagination
Our actions surrounding marriage and relationships can tell us much about the wider social context.
In some cultures, choosing to have an arranged marriage may indicate a commitment to following cultural norms and accepting familial obligations.
Some may marry because they feel it is the 'natural' thing to do before starting a family. It has functional purposes and provides security and certainty.
Others may feel that marriage is an outdated institution and choose to stay single or cohabit (live together as an unmarried couple).
If someone comes from a religious family, they may see it as necessary to have a partner; therefore, they may feel pressured to marry.
Lastly, some may only marry and/or enter a relationship if they feel they've found 'the one', and so may wait until this happens.
Understanding Crime and Deviant Behavior Using a Sociological Imagination
Our criminal and/or deviant behaviors can directly relate to the society we live in.
Criminal and/or deviant behavior may be a result of an abusive or unstable family life.
Someone who suffers from drug addiction may be experiencing an undiagnosed medical or mental condition and is self-medicating.
A person could end up joining a gang because they have poor social and familial ties, and instead seek connections with gang members.
C Wright Mills: The Sociological Imagination (1959)
We'd be amiss discussing this topic without reference to the actual 1959 book, The Sociological Imagination, by C. Wright Mills.
Let's look at a quote from this book before exploring what it means.
When, in a city of 100,000, only one is unemployed, that is his personal trouble, and for its relief we properly look to the character of the individual, his skills and his immediate opportunities. But when in a nation of 50 million employees, 15 million people are unemployed, that is an issue, and we may not hope to find its solution within the range of opportunities open to any one individual...the range of possible solutions require us to consider the economic and political institutions of the society, and not merely the personal situation...of individuals."2
In simpler terms, Mills asks us to consider our place in the context of wider society and the world. We shouldn't look at our personal experiences in isolation but through the lens of society, social issues and structures.
Mills argues that many problems faced by individuals have their roots in society, and no problem is unique to that individual. It is likely that many people (thousands or even millions), are facing the same issue. In the example given in the quote, the personal trouble of unemployment is actually due to a wider public issue of mass unemployment due to the large numbers of people experiencing the same personal trouble.
As a result, we should connect our personal, individual experiences and perspectives to those of society, its history, and its institutions. If we do this, what seems like a series of bad choices, personal shortcomings, and poor luck may actually turn out to be a structural circumstance.
Consider another example. Joseph is a 45-year-old man, and he has been living on the streets for nearly six months now. Very few people give him money to buy food and water. Passers-by are quick to judge him and assume he is on drugs or is lazy, or a criminal.
Using the sociological imagination in the case of Joseph involves looking at the reasons for his homelessness. A few factors could be high costs of living and rent, which means he can't afford the resources he'd need for a job interview (a phone, suitable clothing, a resume, and the ability to travel).
Even if he had those things, it would be difficult to get a job because there are poor employment opportunities. This is due to the instability of the economy, which means companies probably aren't looking to hire or won't pay very well.
Mills claims that sociologists should work with economists, political scientists, psychologists, and historians to capture a more elaborate picture of society.
Fig. 2 - Mills argues that many problems faced by individuals have their roots in society, and no problem is unique to that individual. Unemployment is an example of such an issue.
Sociological Imagination: a Summary of the Three Elements
Mills outlines three main elements to be used when using the sociological imagination. Below is a summary of these.
1. We should see "the inter-connection between our personal experiences and the larger social forces." 2
- Identify connections between yourself as an individual and between society. How would your life be if you existed 100 years ago?
2. We should identify behaviors that are properties of and a part of social systems.
3. We should identify which social forces influence our behavior.
- We may not see them, but we know they affect our behavior. Examples of such social forces include power, peer pressure, culture, and authority.
A Sociological Imagination vs. a Sociological Perspective
Using a sociological imagination is not the same as seeing things from a sociological perspective. Sociological perspectives seek to explain behavior and interactions within social groups by placing the behavior in context.
The functionalist sociological perspective may explain that someone goes to work because they are fulfilling their role in society. Looking at the same situation, Marxists would explain that someone goes to work because they have to since they are being exploited under capitalism.
More broadly, a sociological imagination encourages individuals to make connections between their own lives and society as a whole, whilst sociological perspectives study social groups within social contexts.
Sociological Imagination - Key takeaways
- Having a sociological imagination means having an objective awareness of the relationship between individuals and wider society. By using the sociological imagination, we can better explore the connection between personal troubles and public issues.
- In his 1959 work,The Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills discusses how we can do this using three main elements,
- Mills asks us to consider our place in the context of wider society and the world. We shouldn't look at our personal experiences in isolation but through the lens of society, social issues, and structures.
- Mills claims that sociologists should work with economists, political scientists, psychologists, and historians to capture a more elaborate picture of society.
- Using a sociological imagination is not the same as a sociological perspective because sociological perspectives seek to explain behavior and interactions within social groups by placing the behavior in context.
References
- Mills, C. W (1959). The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press.
- Mills, C. W (1959). The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press.
- Mills, C. W (1959). The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press.
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