Sociological Imagination And Benefits Of Sociology Course

C. Wright Mills describes sociological imagination as a vivid awareness of the relationship between personal experience and the wider society in which individuals are embedded. Analyzing and evaluating something further before making a judgement is a way of exercising your sociological imagination.

For example, assuming that all people who lose their jobs are irresponsible, is not practicing sociological imagination. There are many other factors which may lead to people losing their jobs. Examining a situation with an open mind permits us to perceive the world differently.

Sociology and common sense are two different concepts. What separates sociology from common sense is, sociology studies human behavior that may be influenced by social relationships, culture, and or society. Common sense is a judgment created by society and is unreliable because everyone views the world differently. As per Schaefer, sociologists do not acknowledge something as a fact simply because it is commonly known, they rely on scientific studies to describe and understand a social environment.

Bourdieu states, cultural capital refers to noneconomic goods, such as family background and education, the kind of education that is valued by the social elite. This may refer to an advantage that someone may have which may give them a high status. Social capital refers to the resources obtained through collective social networks (Schaefer). An example of social capital is being invited to a conference because your professor gave you a ticket versus personally being invited to the conference because you are knowledgeable in the field and you might even get the opportunity to present.

There are many factors that may differentiate someone's social and cultural capital such as your occupation, culture, gender, religion, race etc. My friends and I may have similar cultural capitals but different social capitals. We may have resembling education and cultural backgrounds but different social networks.

Manifest functions of institutions are intended consequences and latent functions are unconscious or intended functions that may reflect hidden purposes. An example of social change that has both manifest and latent functions is social media. The manifest function of it was, a way for people to keep in touch with friends and family from long distances. The latent function has become to share information, for advertising products and or simply to kill time when boredom strikes.

The benefits of taking a sociology course is to understand human behavior and why they are influenced by different social factors. Also, we can learn how to be critical thinkers and view the world from different perspectives. Gaining knowledge about other cultures can expand your social environment and connect you with other societies.