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The Sociological ImaginationThe Sociological Imagination

Sociology

 ± focuses on how broader beliefs and

structures shape behavior  ± is a way of seeing and making sense

of the world

 ± involves critical thinking and a vigilantskepticism of common sense

explanations about the world

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The Sociological ImaginationThe Sociological Imagination

PUBLIC

ISSUES

History Structure

BiographyPrivate Troubles

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The Sociological ImaginationThe Sociological Imagination Public Issue

 ± A concern or a

problem that³transcends the

individual.´

 ± It is a problem in

which we must lookat the individual and

beyond to find

solutions.

Private Troubles

 ± Problems that can be

solved by anindividual¶s own

actions and/or  

problems that are

caused by his or her 

own history

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The Sociological ImaginationThe Sociological Imagination Sociology involves attention to history

and constant questioning about the

origins of social patterns and problems

  A key notion in sociology, and

emphasized by C. Wright Mills, is

³SOCIAL STRUCTURE´

has to do with power, social

interaction and collective beliefs

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Elements of Social StructureElements of Social Structure

Powerful people (e.g. CEOs, politicians)and organizations (e.g. conglomerates,political parties, unions etc.) that define

and shape social life Norms, values and cultural beliefs

 ± Western explorer who is told halfway 

through dinner that he is eating thenice old lady he had been chatting  with the previous day ²Berger 

 ± Spit or Saliva?

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Studying SocietyStudying Society Sociological Questions:

How did things get the way they are?

 ± Why do women make less than men?

 ± Why is there growing income inequality in the

U.S.?

To develop answers to such questions,

sociologists tend to focus on broader 

historical processes

 ± e.g. ³McDonaldization´

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³McDonaldization´³McDonaldization´

T he search for maximum efficiency in

increasingly numerous and diverse

social settings (where efficiency has to

do with identifying the optimum meansto a given end)

Why Important?

Dehumanizing for employees (jobdissatisfaction)

Impersonal customer 

interactions/society

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Why did McDonald¶s emerge?Why did McDonald¶s emerge?

It provided the most efficient way to

meet society¶s needs

But it was more than that«

McDonald¶s was created under 

particular historical circumstances

where the behavior of people had

become driven by efficiency concernsas opposed to other kinds of 

concerns such as preparing and

consuming meals as a family event

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Explaining MarriageExplaining Marriage

Conventional Western explanation

focuses on Love

 ± In reality, most marriages involve people

who are similar in a variety of ways (socio-

economic background, race, ethnicity etc.)

 ± Hence, social structural considerations

shape marriage rituals by generatingappropriate ³love´ emotions

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Newman¶s ThemeNewman¶s Theme ³Everyday social life²our thoughts, actions, feelings,

decisions, interactions, and so on²is the product of a

complex interplay between societal forces andpersonal characteristics. To explain why people are

the way they are or do the things they do, we must

understand the interpersonal, historical, cultural,

organizational, and global environments they inhabit.

To understand either individuals or society, we mustunderstand both (C. W. Mills 1959).´

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Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts

The sociological imagination enables us

to be reflective and critical about who

we are and about how society works

While McDonalds may be efficient,we may want to be concerned about

some of the negative consequences

of McDonaldization (dehumanization)

We are all bound up in broader 

historical processes that shape how we

think and act

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Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts

The sociological imagination not only

helps you to understand the world

better, but also provides insight that can

be helpful in understanding how the

future may unfold