Introduction to Sociology: Introduction

We shall examine three key ideas about sociology: sociological imagination, sociological consciousness and socially constructed.

Sociological Imagination

a) C. Wright Mills:

'Every individual lives, from one generation to the next, in some society . . . . By the fact of his living he contributes, however minutely, to the shaping of his society and to the course of its history, even as he is made by society and by its historical push and shove.'

b) Sociology aims to study the structure of society at the same time as individuals live. And this is called 'social imagination':

- structures include material constraints (economic resources and class position) as well as cultural ones (including gender roles, ethnic values and state regulations); and

- agents and individuals pursue ultimate concerns, life projects, commitments and human needs and have emotional feelings (including the family concern, professional goals and passions for music and cooking).

c) Mills argues that the sociological imagination allows people to understand their 'private troubles' in terms of 'public issues'.

e.g., unemployment, war and marital breakdown are all experienced by people in terms of problems they produce in their personal lives.

à however these issues can only be fully understood in the context of wider social forces; unemployment rate may be increasing in society so that it becomes a public issue.

Sociologists have to consider the economic and political institutions of the society, and not merely the personal situation and the individual's psychological character.

Sociology examines the biography of individuals in the context of the history of their society. The field is also politically important since sociological understanding allows members of the society not only to understand, but to change and improve their lives.

d) Mills argues that to understand individual experiences, we have to look beyond their personal circumstances. We have to examine the structures of society by looking at those social institutions which reach into personal circumstances, and shape individuals 'troubles'. Many 'personal troubles' can only be fully understood by examining broader 'public issues'. This means being aware of social structure and to trace the links between the wider society and the lives of individuals. 'To be able to do this is to possess sociological imagination.'

 

Sociological consciousness

a) Sociology is critical of ideas, events, practices and relationships, since the discipline is based on critical awareness of social life. Nothing is taken for granted, and everything is open to question.

Peter Berger argues that the first wisdom of sociology is that things are not what they seem, things are never simple. Social reality has many layers of meaning, and as each new layer is revealed, perception changes.

b) To ask sociological questions means to challenge commonly held beliefs and official versions of reality:

- the sociological perspective aims to 'see through', 'look behind' and 'lift up the covers'.

Society cannot be taken for granted, it is wrong to assume it to be fixed or natural.

c) Sociology is unwilling to accept superficial and apparent truths:

e.g., education is good for society and students; family functions to stabilise society; and heterosexual is natural.

Instead, sociology probes the apparent reality, and reveals complexity below the surface, discover the hidden elements.

 

Socially constructed

a) One basic fact is that social institutions, arrangements and conventions (i.e., structures) predate us. They were there before we were born; they condition our arrival. These institutions, arrangements and conventions were made in part by previous generations, and we had no control over them. In this sense, our life chances and identities are defined and affected by social contexts, upbringing and the environment.

àWe are socially constructed.

b) Though as human agents, we create, invent and shape our goals, commitments and strategies. We are free to challenge and resist accepted ways of behaviour. Individuals possess charisma, inner drive, personal ambition, will power and idiosyncrasies.

à In this sense, we socially construct.

c) In sociology, sociological imagination aims to avoid determinism (position (a)) and individualism (position (b)). We refer this to the duality of structure and agency. All schools of thought (including Marxism, functionalism and interactionism) adhere to this duality, but vary in their emphasis to one side or the other.