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Questions and Answers
Who coined the term 'sociological imagination'?
How is sociological imagination defined?
What is the aim of exercising sociological imagination?
According to C. Wright Mills, what does sociological imagination reconcile?
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What percentage of college students in the United States fail to graduate, as mentioned in the text?
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What is the primary purpose of the sociological imagination as defined by C. Wright Mills?
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How does the exercise of sociological imagination help in understanding individual situations?
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Give an example of how sociological imagination can be applied to understand a college student's academic struggles.
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What does C. Wright Mills attempt to reconcile with the concept of sociological imagination?
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What does sociological imagination aim to highlight in relation to personal and social outcomes?
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Study Notes
Sociological Imagination
- The term "sociological imagination" was coined by C.Wright Mills.
Definition and Purpose
- Sociological imagination is defined as the ability to understand the relationship between individual experiences and the wider social context.
- The primary purpose of sociological imagination is to enable individuals to understand their personal troubles and public issues.
- The aim of exercising sociological imagination is to reconcile individual experiences with social structures and historical contexts.
Reconciling Individual and Social Aspects
- According to C.Wright Mills, sociological imagination reconciles personal troubles and public issues.
Understanding Individual Situations
- The exercise of sociological imagination helps in understanding individual situations by recognizing how they are shaped by social structures and historical contexts.
- For example, a college student's academic struggles can be understood through sociological imagination by recognizing how they are influenced by factors such as funding, accessibility, and institutional policies.
Highlighting Personal and Social Outcomes
- Sociological imagination aims to highlight the relationship between personal and social outcomes, demonstrating how individual experiences are shaped by social structures and historical contexts.
Education Statistics
- In the United States, approximately 50% of college students fail to graduate.
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Description
Test your understanding of the concept of sociological imagination, as coined by C. Wright Mills in 1959. Explore how personal experiences are situated within wider social and historical contexts, and its relevance in today's society.