Understanding The Concept of Sociological Imagination by C. Wright Mills

The sociological imagination is not a concept familiar to most people. This concept is used to describe the ability to “think yourself away from the familiar routines of everyday life” and to essentially look at them through a fresh and entirely new perspective. In order to potentially develop these skills, you must first be able to free yourself from these habits and situations, and see them from an alternate point of view. American sociologist C. Wright Mills developed and used this concept to do just so.

Questioning and critiquing the world around us is essential to be proactive with the sociological imagination. For example, looking at your daily routines and asking yourself why. Why do I do this? You need to question normal things from your day to day life like someone who doesn’t do them. Like someone who isn’t biased on the situation. It’s the ability to see things socially and understand actions and reactions.

“Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both”. Mills emphasized the idea of making connections. Explaining that social structure and individual experience go hand in hand, he wanted us to recognize the ways in which what we often experience as personal troubles are linked to, and for the most part are, public issues. C. Wright Mills ingeniously coined this term, the sociological imagination, to help people grasp the idea that sociology allows us to realize and further understand the connection between our history and biography. Individual vs. social issues and explanations are a huge part of the sociological imagination. Sociologists say that people often blame individuals for their own problems rather than society as a whole. Believing that this answer is inadequate, he goes on to explain that you cannot understand an individual without knowing the larger social situation. Seeing things socially and understanding why and how people interact and influence each other in a society is crucial.

Stating that society needs to realize the value of adopting a sociological perspective, hence the sociological imagination, Mills wanted to make a difference and a lasting impression in not only the sociological community, but our society as a whole. I am in complete accordance with C. Wright Mills. I think acquiring the sociological imagination as a life skill is extremely important. Everyone should be able to comprehend our society and how it functions, but to an extent. The flow of our communities would tremendously improve if we all opened our mind to the sociological imagination. Social and personal issues would decrease dramatically, the economy would rise, and we would still have our setbacks, but that is what grows us stronger as a community.