SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

Reporters
Arleen J. Lim
 SOCIOLOGY
can be defined as the study of
the development, structure and
functioning of the human
society, including social
institutions (family, education,
religion…) and social
relationships and problems.
 SOCIOLOGY
Sociology not only helps us to analyze
current and existing patterns of
social life, but it also helps us to see
some of the possible futures open to
us. Through the sociological
imagination, we can see not only
what is real, but also what could
become real should we desire to
make it that way.
 GRAND THEORY
An overall explanation of
phenomena in a particular
discipline or realm of
experience such as
economics, sociology, or
history.
 GRAND THEORY
Ex. A theory which says that
men who have natural
attributes such as superior
intellect, heroic courage, or
divine inspiration, have a
decisive historical effect.
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
 Mills’ goal in writing The
Sociological Imagination
was to try to reconcile two
different and abstract
concepts of social reality –
the "individual" and
"society."
Mills argues that people sometimes feel “trapped” by their
troubles or their personal circumstances

For example, people have obligations

to their families, they have
commitments at work, their actions
are restricted by fear of gossip in
their friendship groups, or they might
feel as if they have to live their lives
in particular ways because society
forces this upon us.
Mills argues that people sometimes feel “trapped” by their
troubles or their personal circumstances

 Falling in love
 The type of jobs we end up pursuing
 The decision to live alone
 The types of families we form

– these are all choices that are shaped by

the time and place we live. People rarely
think about their life choices – nor the lives
of others – as the outcome of institutions
and history.
Mills argues that people sometimes feel “trapped” by their
troubles or their personal circumstances
Some people think about a handful of
external influences as having direct impact
on their lives
– religion,
_ family
_ media,

but they do not always see the complex

interplay between various social forces.
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

The sociological imagination is

important today because it can relate
personal troubles and public issues,
connecting biography and history, in
order to give a complete sense of the
specific anxieties and crises in our
society.
 Origins of the Sociological Imagination
• The sociological imagination was born in the context of three
modern revolutions that pushed people to think about society in
new ways.
1. The Scientific Revolution (1550) suggested that a science of society
was possible.
2. The Democratic Revolution (1750) suggested that people could
intervene to improve society.
3. The Industrial Revolution (1780s) presented social thinkers with a
host of pressing social problems crying out for solution.
• They responded by giving birth to the Sociological Imagination.
 Origins of the Sociological Imagination
1. The Scientific Revolution suggested that
a science of society was possible.

new ideas and discoveries fundamentally

changed the
way people thought, and
started what is called
science today.
 Origins of the Sociological Imagination
2. The Democratic Revolution suggested that
people could intervene to improve society

brought about through

democratic means,
usually without violence.
 Origins of the Sociological Imagination
3. The Industrial Revolution

the changes in manufacturing and

transportation that began with
fewer things being made by hand
but instead made using machines
in larger-scale factories.
 What is
SOCIOLOGICAL
IMAGINATION?
SOCIOLOGICAL “the vivid
IMAGINATION
awareness of
the relationship
between
experience and
the wider
society.“
SOCIOLOGICAL Ability to
IMAGINATION connect one’s
personal
experiences to
society at large
and great
historical
forces.
 In our society Corrupt Practices History
conflicting nepotism

Backdoor
embezzlement
Corruption can
incentives
discretionary Bribery
be traced
powers Money
monopolistic laundering from the
powers
lack of
Kickbacks

deals
colonization
transparency extortion
low pay cronyism period
culture
of impunity Influence peddling
DUTERTE (BIOGRAPHY)

• Born during world war 2 (1945)

• Oldest to become president
• Mayor of davao for 22yrs
• 1400 killings by his davao death squad were documented
• He admitted killing criminal suspects in davao
• claimed that swearing is not a crime, and he acquired the habit during his 22 years as a
mayor. “You do not get results when you do not” use vulgar language, he has said.
• In many ways, the crudity of the speech – the directness, the bluntness, the misogyny –
seem to be … indications of how people think strong men should act. -Randy David,
professor emeritus in sociology
• Duterte’s penchant for making provocative remarks has fostered an environment which
has made officials comfortable in expressing equally controversial comments.
• Comes from a family of politicians
the capacity to
shift from one
perspective to
another.
‘Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a
society can be understood without understanding
both.’ ~C. Wright Mills

Chinese introduced
the Filipinos to rice,
fish and soy sauce
and stir frying to
their interaction
with the Spanish,
who introduced
cutlery, tomatoes
and cattle-raising,
and the Americans
who brought canned
meats.
‘Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society
can be understood without understanding both.’ ~C. Wright Mills
it is understanding
that some things in
society may lead to
a certain outcome.
Things that shape these outcomes
include (but are not limited to):

social norms

what people want to gain from their

actions (their motives), and

the social context in which they

live (e.g. country, time period, people with whom they
associate).
it is understanding that some things in
society may lead to a certain outcome.
Ex: Going to college
to learn (motive)
to earn a degree (motive)
all in the family who are older than you have
gone to college (social context)
At age 16 you will go to college and you are
expected to finish it in 4 years or so. (social
norm)

SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
 withdrawal, anger,
revenge, alcoholism,
drugs, suicide…

malnutrition, crime,
thievery, child labor…

it is understanding that some things in

society may lead to a certain outcome.
an outlook of society
which tries to steer us
into thinking away from
one's usual day-to-day
life and look at one's life
afresh.

SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
We can apply the
concept of the
sociological
imagination to any
behavior.

SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

•A quality of mind that

helps an individual see
what is going on
in the world and
what is happening
within the self
 EXAMPLES OF
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

1. Unemployment
An individual facing unemployment
might feel defeated, depleted, and
discouraged. That person is likely to
look in the mirror and say, "You didn't
work hard enough. You didn't try hard
enough…" You, you, you.
If Mills were around, he'd say, "Not
you. The world around you."
 EXAMPLES OF
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

1. Unemployment
An individual facing unemployment might
feel defeated, depleted, and discouraged. That
person is likely to look in the mirror and say,
"You didn't work hard enough. You didn't try hard
enough…" You, you, you.
If Mills were around, he'd say, "Not you. The
world around you.“ He believes that every
problem faced by an individual has roots in
society as a whole and is faced by many others.
It's unlikely that every struggle you face is
unique to you alone. There are hundreds,
thousands, if not millions of others who are
going through the same struggle.
 Everyday Behavior and Sociological
Imagination
2. TEA DRINKING
• In one case, it can be seen as a sign of good health.
• It could be considered a tradition or ritual as many people
chose to drink tea ritualistically each day at certain
times.
• It could be considered a type drug being that it contains
caffeine and the drinker of the tea could have a caffeine
addiction.
• It can also be seen as a social activity; "meeting for tea“
• focuses less on the drinking of the beverage and more on
the action of meeting with another person.
 Deviance and the Sociological
Imagination
• The sociological
3. Thievery, random murder, gang imagination is
violence, drug and alcohol abuse never meant to
excuse
someone's
position in life.
Is deviance a personal act of It's just that life
is rarely a
desperation? Maybe. Gang members solitary situation
make terrible decisions each and where our
singular choices
every day. Is that because they're are untouched
terrible people? That's not for us to by societal or
cultural
say. But we can take things in a variables.
broader context.
 Social Media and the Sociological
Imagination

4. Instagram

Nearly everything we
experience today is an
extension of some prior
period in life.
 Marriage and Sociological Influence

4. Instagram

Nearly everything we
experience today is an
extension of some prior
period in life.
 *In any case where
Other Behaviors That Involve you think about
these issues or
Social Imagination activities from
different
• exercising • volunteering perspectives from
your customary
• cooking • painting approach is an
example of Social
• writing Imagination

• reading
• public speaking
• giving to charity
• religious practice
• driving a car
• competing in athletic
competition
Works Consulted
• Writing Assignments. (2013, January 22). Retrieved February 10, 2015, from
https://justmysociologicalimagination.wordpress.com/writing-assignments/
• Examples of Sociological Imagination. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9th, 2015, from
http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-sociological-imagination.html
• C. Wright Mills' Sociology. (2005, March 1). Retrieved February 9, 2015, from
http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/users/f/felwell/www/Theorists/Essays/Mills3.htm
• Mills, C. Wright. (1959). The Sociological Imagination. Retrieved February 10,
2015, from http://legacy.lclark.edu/~goldman
• Enotes. (2012, March 19). Retrieved February 9, 2015, from
http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-sociology-perspective-324286
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (2014) Retrieved February 9, 2015, from
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/sociology/the-sociological-
perspective/three-major-perspectives-in-sociology
• Your Dictionary. (1996-2015). Retrieved February 10, 2015, from
http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-sociological-imagination.html