Examples Of Social Imagination

Social imagination is being able to compare and make connections between forces of the past and personal experiences. You can speculate how an event will turn out based on the track record of the same situation for others. The technique of social imagination can be used to view situations in the context of a wider society. Social imagination can be an excellent thinking technique to use to create a more aware population and to respect others lifestyle. One’s actions can be influenced by outside sources such as other individuals and environments. This style of thinking can be used in many different ways to view different aspects of life. An example of this would be drinking a cup of tea. You can then use social imagination to look outside

yourself and consider the different reasons someone may drink tea also. Although you may be drinking it for the pure satisfaction of enjoying the drink, others may have different motivators. Tea can be used for health reasons to absorb nutrients just like someone would take vitamins. Researchers have discovered many natural benefits to tea and someone may use it for dietary reasons. There are also some who use tea as a social affair. Just like going out to drinks on a Friday night, some may just gather for a more casual meeting for tea.

There are even some religions that incorporate drinking tea into their rituals. It is seen as tradition for some to drink tea at certain times of each day. Finally some may use tea as a pick me up. Just like those who have their morning coffee, some use tea for the caffeine. This can even become an addiction when a person becomes dependent on the caffeine and alertness associated with tea. Some things sociology students can do to acquire social imagination, is think outside of your life. Instead of looking at everything based on your familiar daily routine, try to think about someone else’s life. It is easy to get caught up in every day life to the point we think everyone around us does the same things as us and for the same reasons. You have to be able to pull away from a situation and consider alternative reasoning’s as if you’re a separate party looking in. A way to practice this would be to look around one of your classes and consider why people are in that class. Maybe you’re in it because it required for your major, but everyone might not be the same. Someone can be there because they are interested in the

subject. Perhaps they are using it to fill space as an elective. The main goal of what C. Wright Mills is trying to show with social imagination is that we have to consider that, although multiple people can be doing the same thing, different motivators can be driving those same actions. People outside your home or culture were raised differently than you and while using social imagination these events or socials structures can be what impact behaviors and attitudes.