1.  Lesson 1 – The Sociological Imagination Social Problems Robert Wonser

2. What is a social problem?  Social problems  Consist of objective and subjective criteria  Objective – the existence of a social condition  Subjective – the belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society or to a segment of society and that it should and can be changed

3.  Therefore:  A social problem is a social condition that a segment of society views as harmful to members of society and in need of remedy  Ex:  Poverty  Crime  Etc

4. Sociological Imagination  C Wright Mills ’ term for the ability to shift your perspective from one that emphasizes the experiences of the individual to one that understands the broader social context in which that individual lives.  It is an awareness that we are a part of something larger than ourselves and that our position and personal problems are rooted in the larger workings of society.

5. Individual vs Society  While it is tempting to explain everything from the point of view of individuals and individuals’ choices, it is important to remember the social context and group affiliations.  For example: Why is there a gender pay gap?  Glass ceiling versus Glass Escalator  Why has the gap between black families income and white families’ incomes remained relatively constant since the Civil Rights Era even though the families themselves are different?  Why are you here today? 5

6. What Makes Sociology Unique? The Sociological Imagination 6 C. Wright Mills used the term sociological imagination as a quality of the mind that allows us to understand the relationship between our particular situation in life and what is happening at a social level. Personal troubles versus public issues Ex: unemployment, obesity C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)

7. Using your Sociological Imagination  In small groups:  How would you explain the following social problems using the sociological imagination/perspective?  Obesity  Homelessness/Poverty  Unemployment  Marriage  The metropolis  War 7

8. Three Sociological Theories  Functionalism  Conflict Theory  Symbolic Interactionism

9. Functionalism  Structural Functionalism or simply functionalism begins with the assumption that society is a unified whole that functions because of the contributions of its separate structures.  Its origins can be traced to the ideas of Comte, Spencer, and Durkheim.  Parsons and Merton in US 9

10. Conflict Theory  Conflict Theory sees social conflict as the basis of society and social change, and emphasizes a materialist view of society, a critical view of the status quo, and a dynamic model of historical change, emerged from the writings of Marx.  Power imbalances and class based analyses. 10

11. Symbolic Interactionism  Symbols + interaction  Symbolic Interactionism sees interaction and meaning as central to society and assumes that meanings are not inherent but are created through interaction.  Interaction of meaningful symbols.  It is America’s unique contribution to sociology and has proved to be the most influential perspective of the twentieth century.  Comes from George Herbert Mead, Charles Horton Cooley and Herbert Blumer 11