C. Wright Mills: Impact Of The Sociological Perspective
Impact of the Sociological Perspective
When viewing the concept of society, terms such as norm, value, status, and structure are often perceived. While society is known to have social factors influencing human behavior, noting influences of the individual is a second critical factor in creating what is known as the sociological perspective. Accordingly, C. Wright Mills emphasizes, “The sociological imagination enables us to grasp the connection between history and biography” (Henslin, 3). Mills addresses that external influence explains individual behavior, and the sociological perspective allows sociologists to view a situation in a broader context. By using one or more of the three sociological perspectives, functionalist, conflict, …show more content…
Finding patterns in human behavior when using sociological perspectives is known as witnessing the “general in particular”. Overall, sociological imagination allows an understanding of personal troubles as part of the economic and political institutions of society, and prevents us from misinterpreting a topic or interpreting it simplistically.
Consider the topic of poverty as an example for the use of sociological perspectives which aid to determine the “general in particular”. Poverty rates are known to be high in America and countries across the world. Some sociologists explain the cause of poverty due to people’s moral failings, while others have argued that it can be better understood as a result of income inequality in society. In this situation, sociological thinking focuses on social structure and the independent choices of the individual, along with how it relates to the life of the individual. Associated with conflict theory, Karl Marx concludes that “the key to human history is class conflict”(Henslin 27). Sociologist Max Weber also points to the importance of economy, power, status, and dominance as a driving force to inequality, presenting what is
When viewing the concept of society, terms such as norm, value, status, and structure are often perceived. While society is known to have social factors influencing human behavior, noting influences of the individual is a second critical factor in creating what is known as the sociological perspective. Accordingly, C. Wright Mills emphasizes, “The sociological imagination enables us to grasp the connection between history and biography” (Henslin, 3). Mills addresses that external influence explains individual behavior, and the sociological perspective allows sociologists to view a situation in a broader context. By using one or more of the three sociological perspectives, functionalist, conflict, …show more content…
Finding patterns in human behavior when using sociological perspectives is known as witnessing the “general in particular”. Overall, sociological imagination allows an understanding of personal troubles as part of the economic and political institutions of society, and prevents us from misinterpreting a topic or interpreting it simplistically.
Consider the topic of poverty as an example for the use of sociological perspectives which aid to determine the “general in particular”. Poverty rates are known to be high in America and countries across the world. Some sociologists explain the cause of poverty due to people’s moral failings, while others have argued that it can be better understood as a result of income inequality in society. In this situation, sociological thinking focuses on social structure and the independent choices of the individual, along with how it relates to the life of the individual. Associated with conflict theory, Karl Marx concludes that “the key to human history is class conflict”(Henslin 27). Sociologist Max Weber also points to the importance of economy, power, status, and dominance as a driving force to inequality, presenting what is