Sociological Imagination:
- Developed by C. Wright Mills
- The Power of the Elite
Defined as an awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society, today and in the
past
- Ability to connect one’s life to greater historical events and societal norms
- Viewing society from an outsider’s perspective
- Mills claimed that society, not people’s personal failings, is the cause of poverty and other social
problems.
Mall Watching/Bar Watching:
How would you apply your sociological imagination to what you may see in the mall or in the bar?
Dating Apps:
Say you are listening to various conversations about peoples’ dating app choices, the people they swipe, on
the “locker room” talk of it all, what might you draw from that?
Issues:
Values- When values are in conflict with social desired outcomes, they become personal troubles or public
issues
Ex: Unemployment is made public.
Public and Private Examples:
- Divorce Rates
- Crack Epidemic vs. the Opioid/Fentanyl Epidemic
Adresses 3 Questions:
- What is the structure of a particular society?
Essential components
Differences
Features
- Where does society stand in human history?
Mechanics
Meanings
Affect and Affected historical periods
Essential features and how they differ historically
- What varieties of people now prevail in society in this period?
Ruling Class (how is it formed)
Common people (how are they liberated or repressed)
Human Nature (what can we learn of human nature of each feature of society examined)
- Developed by C. Wright Mills
- The Power of the Elite
Defined as an awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society, today and in the
past
- Ability to connect one’s life to greater historical events and societal norms
- Viewing society from an outsider’s perspective
- Mills claimed that society, not people’s personal failings, is the cause of poverty and other social
problems.
Mall Watching/Bar Watching:
How would you apply your sociological imagination to what you may see in the mall or in the bar?
Dating Apps:
Say you are listening to various conversations about peoples’ dating app choices, the people they swipe, on
the “locker room” talk of it all, what might you draw from that?
Issues:
Values- When values are in conflict with social desired outcomes, they become personal troubles or public
issues
Ex: Unemployment is made public.
Public and Private Examples:
- Divorce Rates
- Crack Epidemic vs. the Opioid/Fentanyl Epidemic
Adresses 3 Questions:
- What is the structure of a particular society?
Essential components
Differences
Features
- Where does society stand in human history?
Mechanics
Meanings
Affect and Affected historical periods
Essential features and how they differ historically
- What varieties of people now prevail in society in this period?
Ruling Class (how is it formed)
Common people (how are they liberated or repressed)
Human Nature (what can we learn of human nature of each feature of society examined)
