As I studied the contents of Chapter 1, I became thoroughly acquainted with the concept of Sociological Imagination. Created by contemporary sociologist C. Wright Mills, this theory describes how an individual can effectively analyze and distinguish between personal and social problems (Scott, 2022). One of the examples described in Chapter 1 provides the following comparison: while a person has a low school performance because of an alcohol problem and a personal problem, 50 percent of students do not graduate from college is a societal problem (Scott, 2022). Moreover, I have found many different examples in various academic journals on sociology, particularly those regarding climate change (Norgaard, 2019). Thus, Sociological Imagination describes mechanisms and concepts to separate the two phenomena mentioned above.
Regarding my personal experience, there is a fairly obvious example observed by many people every day. Unfortunately, many motorists have a habit of unscrewing the mufflers of their cars, which results in excessive smoke emissions from the fuel they use. Such activity is illegal, but fans of spectacular driving actively use it, and it is a personal problem of a person who disrespects the people around him and other drivers. At the same time, the massive release of ozone-depleting gas from these cars, accelerating the process of global warming, is a societal problem that requires the intervention of relevant worldwide organizations to confront air pollution. According to various scholar researches, environmental issues are generally coherent with the connection of personal and societal problems in the modern society (Norgaard, 2018). Consequently, one can conclude that observing everyday problems can significantly increase the understanding and application of Sociological Imagination.
Reference
Norgaard, K. M. (2018). The sociological imagination in a time of climate change. Global and Planetary change, 163, 171-176. Web.
Scott, C. (2022). Introduction to Sociology. Lumen Learning. Web.