My sociological imagination

My sociological imagingBefore going through this weeks reading and into todays lecture, I hadnt yet condescend across the concept of the sociological predilection. Although the concept is confabmingly new to me, it is credibly that I have been using my sociological imagination for several long time now especially whilst studying Society and Culture for my Higher civilise Certificate in figure outs 11 and 12 at mellowed school. In the subject, I can recall doing numerous case studies such as locutioning at the red light district in Calcutta, India as well as research assignments on topics like the stolen extension and my major work, the personal interest project on the stems of homophobic attitudes. To be intimate this work to the best of my potential, I was definitely thinking with my sociological imagination.I would define the sociological imagination as the art of objectifying a locating so that you atomic number 18 competent form a view that captures it as a whole. It is thus a ho reheelic way of thinking and mogul of incorporating all elements as well as place settings and contexts into what you may be researching. The sociological imagination is an principal(prenominal) frame of mind for a sociologist or anthropologist to be able to effectively assess a situation.C.W. mill expresses this holistic thought process of shaping the complete picture throughout this weeks reading, The Promise. While the text was compose in 1959, his views and ideas of sociological imaginative practice are still precise much relevant in 21st Century context of analysing loving and cultural situations. The social sciences now commonly uptake this idea to research such issues as social structures (e.g. Indias social class system), welfare problems (e.g. domestic violence) or health concerns (e.g. drug and alcohol addiction and abuse).An interesting argument Mills makes about the sociological imagination featured on scalawag 15 is The sociological imaginat ion enables us to grasp history and memoir and the relations between the two within society. Here he is stating that we are not able to understand or formulate solutions for the biography of definite situations without take into consideration history, be that of a place, a person, a surmisal or even anything you wish to dismember. We must look at what has been in order to comprehend what is. Take for example a 45 year old female suffering from heart disease, it seems their life is quite alive(p) and their diet is balanced but why are they in compulsion of a bypass operation to clear a blockage in an artery? Well one of the first question doctors would ask is if in that respect is a history of heart disease in the family. Doctors here use their sociological imagination to understand the patients condition and it seems genetics and the historical background of her family is what is contributing to her life now.Also on rascal 15 of The Promise, Mills puts forward a further thou ght about the sociological imagination For that imagination is the capacity to shift from one perspective to another from governmental to the psychological. Mills here is examining framing perspectives and the sociological imagination giving you the top executive of seeing things from differing perspectives. Putting yourself in another persons frame of mind or in their circumstances makes a situation much easier to comprehend. We can see something from a feminist perspective, a Marxist perspective, a scientific perspective, a postmodernist perspective or even seeing things from a childs perspective, the list is endless. A jury takes a number of people from many diametric social, cultural and historical backgrounds in order for them to find a defendant guilty or not guilty. The idea is that all of these perspectives collaborate to form the correct verdict to determine the fate of a defendant.Mills consolidates why we must make use of our sociological imagination on page 17 by st ating Accordingly, to understand the changes of many personal milieux we are infallible to look beyond them. He raises the idea here that you must look beyond ones milieux, environment and surroundings to be able to comprehend and analyse their identity thoroughly. In the Up Series video excerpt shown in todays lecture consolidated that Mills theory about looking quondam(prenominal) a persons environment is extremely valid. Based in Britain during the 1960s we sawing machine fourteen children from varied socioeconomic backgrounds come together to determine whether or their social class will play a role in preordaining their succeeding(a). It became particularly clear of their economic circumstances when the children were asked what theyd like to be when they enhance up. One boy from an upper class background replies with I ask to go to Oxford University whilst a boy from the lower class asks what is a university? flavor beyond these childrens backgrounds and paths that may or may not be plan by the childrens parents, it became clear that these children do hold many of the same characteristics unheeding of social status. For instance, they all were able to successfully interact at a party together as well as be heart-to-heart of playing with each other at an adventure playground. Children were essentially being children.By thinking with the sociological imagination I am able to discover the full scope of a situation and formulate a thorough holistic opinion. As I am studying a Bachelor of Social Work at UNSW, it will be important if not fundamental technique for me to make use of whilst completing my floor looking at case studies, writing assignments as well as when on work placement and most importantly in my future career as a social worker.