SOCIOLOGICA

L
IMAGINATION
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Q: What is the difference between sociology

and other social science disciplines?
1. Focus on human behavior
2. Social groups as unit of analysis
3. Focus on current social issues or
historical background of ongoing
issues

Issues vs. Troubles

Troubles are privately felt problems that spring from
events or feelings in a persons life.

Issues affect large numbers of people and have

their origins in the institutional arrangements and
history of a society.

Auguste Comte
The founding father of
sociology.
He believed that
society could be
studied scientifically.
This approach is
known as
positivism.

17981857
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C. Wright Mills
C.W. Mills coined the
term the

sociological
imagination (1959).
The ability to see the
societal patterns that
influence the
individual as well as
groups of individuals.
19161962
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Sociological imagination
personal biographies are linked to the
social and historical context in which they
are lived.

ex. Brian & Jens Marriage

Sociological imagination
COMPLETE THIS
Technological
development
law

economy
Your life
Scientific
development

Educational
system
War/military
system

The media

 Health Care System

Popular Culture (ex. TV, movie,
internet)
Gender Roles

Discussion Question
Describe a trouble that you currently face.
Why do you think you are facing this trouble?
Which social group do you think is most likely to face
this trouble in our society?
Why?
How is your trouble related to a public issue?

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