SOCI 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Social Forces, Scientific Revolution, French Revolution
Lecture 2 – September 18, 2017
Exploring Sociology – Chapter 1:
- Our existence is defined by the reality that we are social beings who live and grow
through our interactions with others
- Sociology: systematic study of human groups and their interactions
o To understand sociology is to appreciate its distinctive view of the social world
referred to as the sociological perspective
- Sociological perspective: the unique way in which sociologists see our world and can
dissect the dynamic relationships between individuals and the larger social network in
which we all live
- Charles Wright Mills suggested that people who do not or cannot recognize the social
origins and character of their problems may be unable to respond to them effectively.
o Failing to appreciate how individual challenges are influenced by larger social
foes diiishes a peso’s aility to udestad ad esolve the.
o Individual and the social are linked and we cannot fully understand one without
the other
- Personal troubles: individual challenges
o Ex. Sociology midterm exam – you have to write it – you have to study to do well
– if you do poorly its personal trouble
- Social issues: caused by larger social factors
o Ex. Sociology midterm exam – everyone fails – initially believe its personal
trouble – recognize whole class did poorly and becomes social issue
▪ Ivolves a goup of people, ad olletive atio fo the goup’s oes
to be acknowledged and potentially acted upon
- According to Mills, many personal troubles never become social troubles because
people rarely connect what is happening to them with the larger social world
- Quality of Mind: ability to look beyond personal circumstance and into social context
o Ex. No one passes the midterm, but no one says anything about it because
individual shame
o To improve quality of mind, Mills said sociologists need to expose individuals to
sociological imagination
- Sociological Imagination: ability to understand the dynamic relationship between
individual lives and the larger society
o Looking at yourself in a new perspective
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Our existence is defined by the reality that we are social beings who live and grow through our interactions with others. Sociology: systematic study of human groups and their interactions: to understand sociology is to appreciate its distinctive view of the social world referred to as the sociological perspective. Sociological perspective: the unique way in which sociologists see our world and can dissect the dynamic relationships between individuals and the larger social network in which we all live. Individual and the social are linked and we cannot fully understand one without the other. Sociology midterm exam you have to write it you have to study to do well. If you do poorly its personal trouble. Social issues: caused by larger social factors: ex. Sociology midterm exam everyone fails initially believe its personal trouble recognize whole class did poorly and becomes social issue.