Lecture 1: Introduction

Question 1

the sociological imagination

Answer 1

• The ability to understand personal circumstances within a broader historical context
• Emphasizes the intersection of biography and history

Question 2

example of the sociological imagination

Answer 2

someone being upset at someone else for ripping up a $50 bill and not a piece of paper

Question 3

why is the sociological imagination important?

Answer 3

• The sociological imagination informs how we approach questions and think about social phenomena.
• It also helps us to understand others and the structure of society itself.

Question 4

social context can shape:

Answer 4

• How we think, behave, and feel
• Where we are in life
• What we achieve in life
• Meanings of our life

Question 5

relating the sociological imagination to mental health

Answer 5

Mental health isn’t just about what’s going on in an individual; it’s also about their social circumstances

Question 6

thinking sociologically

Answer 6

• Understand and analyze the relationship between history and biography
• Emphasizes social and historical meaning of an individual and a particular socio-historical period

Question 7

sociological questions generally revolve around:

Answer 7

• Structure of society as a whole
• How society has changed and been influenced by history
• The social norms and expectations that govern a society