Sociological Imagination Essay

sociological Imagination EssayINTRODUCTIONDefinition of sociological ideaSociological theories describe causes and effects of human behavior study the accessible life, and golf-club. Above definition displays twain concepts human being at the micro level and society at the macro level. Sociological imagination is a sociological system that encapsulates these devil concepts several(prenominal), and society (What is Sciology). An single is an element of society. The society bits force plays on this element. Sociological imagination enables the individual to identify these forces, their imp flakes. Sociological imagination is the ability of connecting micro level to the macro level, and distinguishing someoneal troubles and fond issues.Importance of sociological imaginationExternal act of an individual displays what one does, which is the result of cause and effect. The cause aspect defines why one acts in a specific way. Individual act also displays the geomorphologic arrang ement of a society at a location and a historical point of civilization. Individual act, history, and location are intertwined. Sociological imagination demonstrates how an individual perceives the brotherly forces, as well as the cause and effect relationship of an individual or multitude of individuals with social issues or social forces. This is why we should veneration for sociological imagination.ExamplesIn India, many centuries ago, widow women used to commit ritualistic suicide by being burnt alive along with the dead husband. The act of widow women was the result of social forces that existed during that condemnation in India (Deducing with sociological imagination). In John Grishams novel A Time to Kill, the African American Carl Lee Hailey kills two snowy men who raped and killed his short daughter Tonya. Acts of the white men and Carl Lee Hailey were the result of social forces that existed in social groups in the USA at that time. The social force in this case was r acism. Two white men raped and killed Tonya because she was black. Carl Lee killed the white rapists because he knew justice would not prevail for white men (A time to kill 2008).Thesis statementWhen I analyze my own life done sociological imagination, I am able to rationalize my acts and social forces behind them. If I can distinguish, good and bad acts using wisdom then I can counterchange my behavior and worldview. Conflict theory envisioned a society as fragmented into groups. More powerful social groups exert forces on less powerful groups. affectionate imagination discloses the characteristics of social forces when and only when individuals interact with these forces.SOCIAL CONTEXTDefinition of social contextIn a net shell, sociological imagination is an fundamental interaction in the midst of an individual and social forces. This abstraction points towards the concept of existence of correlation between psychology and sociology. Social context theory reveals this relatio nship and show societal and social changes over the passage of time, explains the causes that brought changes and offers future change patterns. The model includes three factors micro socialization process done the behavior of individual and collective of individuals, macro social forces through the social structure, and time (Social context theory). Social context theory is analyzed through social environment holding and time dimension. Social environment dimension consists of social structures that shape the behavior of individual or group of individuals, social process demonstrates how individuals perceive, interpret and interact with the social structures, and social behavior represents the social realities through behavior of individuals. Time dimension enacts the power of the existing societal forces in maintaining social behavior patters (Social context theory). Social imagination acknowledges the existence of interaction between individual or group of individuals and soci al forces. Social context theory explains how and why the relationship emerged and what changes the relationship could bring over the passage of time.Specific socio-historical force 1I lived in Russian part of the Ex-Soviet Union. During mid 1980s, countrys frugal conditions started deteriorating. By late 1980s absence of adequate commodities started hurting public. Bad thriftiness as a social structure shaped individuals behaviors with the concept that Russian Federation was feeding the parasites, non-Russians, so Russians must abandon them, the non-Russians. When social structure (bad economy) and social process (individuals interaction) came into conflict, it resulted the break up of the country.Specific socio-historical force 2I was born and raised in Palestine. Social structure was poor economy, poor upkeep conditions, fundamental religious belief, and constant aggression from Israel. Social process was my perception about Israel and their politics towards Palestine. Povert y, religion, and bad living environment shaped my behavior. My perception was to change living environment, which I found in cooperation with Israel. I voted for peace roadmap with Israel.How your social context could be differentImagine I am living in the USA during the period of segregation. I am an African American. The social structure defecated by European whites suppressed my rights I cannot get proper education, proper job, and eventide a decent place to live. Now, guess I live in the USA when the country has a president who is an African American. It took a long time to make this change, however, now I have equal rights as whites.SOCIAL LOCATIONDefinition of social locationThe concept social imagination assigns two attributes an individual or group of individuals and social forces. Social imagination defines the interaction of an individual or group of individuals with social forces. At the same time, the individual is a character located at a certain place in the society. In American society, white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, male, heterosexual, upper halfway-class, educated, older defines social location of a person (Social location). Social location defines a persons place in their particular social order. A persons bias, belief, and values are shaped based on social locations. Gender, color, economic level, coming from the village or town, healthy or sick, young or old these are some of attributes of social location. Individuals from similar social location create their own social hierarchy. Social hierarchy classifies individuals in a group based on esteem, prestige, economic success, and accumulation of wealth into social classes.Description of social locationI am from India, a country with 1.22 billion populations. I am male, less than 25, from town, literate, which respectively corresponds to 50 %, 51 %, 75 %, and 28 % of the heart population. From the economic standpoint, 18 % constitutes rich and upper middle class, 23 % constitute middle c lass, and 59 % of the total population are poor. I belong to the 18 % social class (Indias middle class population 2011 Indias population 2012).Personal experience 1My childhood social location should be classified than middle class. I faced absence of money in fulfilling a childs desire of purchasing toys.Personal experience 2Teenage years were financially little better, but my parents still were unable to pay tuition for schools with better teachers, and technology. I studied in schools for children from underprivileged families.Personal experience 3In college years, I became interested in Marxism and concept of conflict theory. Years of impoverished economic conditions contributed social imagination that rich and upper middle class are niggardly and want to keep the middle class economically handcuffed forever.RELATIVE CULTUREPersonal beliefs, values, or attitudes 1Edward Taylor defined culture as a decomposable of behavior pattern and perception which includes knowledge, belie fs, morals, customs, ethics and any other skill and habits acquired by man as a member of society (What is culture?). At the same time, belief, customs, and ethics are relative to individual within his own social context. This is how anthropologist explains comparative culture concept (What is culture relativism?). Sociological imagination is interaction between individual or group of individuals acts and social forces. Individual act is a function of social process hence, it characterizes consciousness of individuals. Perception, on the other hand, is a function of relative culture. Belief, morals, ethics form the foundation of human perception and its value varies from one social context to other. Social imagination relates to the culture.Personal beliefs, values, or attitudes 2My social location is poor class in India. Belief, morals, customs relate to orthodox Hindu religion. This culture determines my social context. Hindu religion believes cattle are sacred animals. On the ot her hand, Muslims of the society sacrifice cows in the name of their religion. Social imagination is to make protest to this practice and tab sacrificing cows in the name of religion.Personal beliefs, values, or attitudes 3I am a Palestinian youth, spend the life in the ghetto in pauperism this is my social location. Belief, morals, customs and ethics relate to fundamental Muslim culture. Social context is formed by the fundamental culture. I perceive that Israel is the cause of my personal problems. Social imagination is to change Israeli attitude toward Palestinians. That is way I am a member of Hamaz political party.Personal beliefs, values, or attitudes 4Social location rich, male, middle aged, an Arab, and an owner of an industry that feeds 300 families. I believe my financial position is vital for the well being of employees. However, due to the economic downturn, the go down has stopped several employee support activities and has minify salary by 15 %. Employees are blam ing me for their personal financial problems. Employees are also blaming that the owner has not reduced own expenses. Employees have taken vows to fight me back. My social imagination is to suppress these new social forces with the help of countrys law enforcement agency.CONCLUSIONSociological imagination to a certain extent accepts Marxs conflict theory and agrees that society is divided into fragmented classes with respective social, political and economic power. Conflict arises when a class or group feels social forces from other classes. Social imagination theory recognizes that social behavior is a result of social culture.