Explain the sociological imagination and the relationship between the individual and the broader workings of society

The sociological imagination goes beyond armchair sociology or common sense. Many people believe they understand the world and the events taking place within it, even though they have not actually engaged in a systematic attempt to understanding the social world, as sociologists do. In this section, you’ll learn to think like a sociologist.

What You’ll Learn To Do:

• Define the sociological imagination and describe its framework for understanding our social world
• Apply the sociological imagination to understand how a personal trouble may also be a public issue

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

The learning activities for this section include:

• Reading: Defining the Sociological Imagination
• Video: Applying the Sociological Imagination
• Self-Check: The Sociological Imagination