Sociological Imagination
C. Wright Mills defined sociological imagination as the most needed quality of mind. Sociological imagination is the process of connecting ones life experiences to develop a thought process and build motivation. It’s the outside forces of society rather than the internal instincts. “The society in which we grow up and our particular location in that society lie at the center of what we do and what we think” (Henslin 2007:4). Henslin enforces the idea of the society around people influences how people think and what actions people take. After writing the journal entries and answering questions about how I look at myself from my eyes and the eyes others opened up the idea of sociological imagination. I see sociological imagination as the
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Durkheim described social integration as, “the degree to which people are tied to their social group, as a key social factor in suicide” (Henslin 2007: 8). The functional analysis looks at how parts of society must flow together to live a smooth lifestyle. When the view of society coincides with the personal view of person, life is smoother. Social imagination expands from the functional analysis. In my third journal issue, I described the life I live and how it compares to the people I am around everyday. I compared my life as someone from the upper working class to teammates whose lives come from poor working class. I found myself attached to my social group as well as the view society had of me, which has helped my life progress with little social troubles. The third perspective from the sociological imagination is the symbolic interaction. Symbolic interactionism looks at how people’s ideas and behavior change as symbols change (Henslin: 15). In relation to social imagination, the symbolic interaction society develops shapes people. I know as an athlete, that people look at me and expect me to act in a certain way. I have been symbolized as an athlete or jock. It’s a role I have taken on and it does effect my behavior on how I should act in public and ways I think about my life. I see myself as an
Durkheim described social integration as, “the degree to which people are tied to their social group, as a key social factor in suicide” (Henslin 2007: 8). The functional analysis looks at how parts of society must flow together to live a smooth lifestyle. When the view of society coincides with the personal view of person, life is smoother. Social imagination expands from the functional analysis. In my third journal issue, I described the life I live and how it compares to the people I am around everyday. I compared my life as someone from the upper working class to teammates whose lives come from poor working class. I found myself attached to my social group as well as the view society had of me, which has helped my life progress with little social troubles. The third perspective from the sociological imagination is the symbolic interaction. Symbolic interactionism looks at how people’s ideas and behavior change as symbols change (Henslin: 15). In relation to social imagination, the symbolic interaction society develops shapes people. I know as an athlete, that people look at me and expect me to act in a certain way. I have been symbolized as an athlete or jock. It’s a role I have taken on and it does effect my behavior on how I should act in public and ways I think about my life. I see myself as an