Introduction In our society, we often refer to a person as an individual. When used, this word describes a single entity, one that stands on its own and is separated from everything else. However, through this denotation, we can develop the misconception that an individual is singular in nature; we think that he or she is comprised of only one distinct element. This element, from a psychological standpoint, may be described as our consciousness, while others may call it our free-will. Regardless of the term, it is evident that many people fail to see that an individual is anything but singular or guided by a single motivation; each of us is an amalgamation of many motives and influences that can be described using three realms: history, biography, and social structure. These three terms are the centerpiece of the sociological imagination, a tool created by American sociologist Charles Wright Mills to analyze the social world. …show more content…
So, in order to truly understand and analyze a person, it is necessary to look at how he or she is influenced by personal history, world history, and social structures, such as gender stereotypes and the education system. While this concept falls under the realm of sociological investigation, it is not restricted to professional sociologists. The sociological imagination is a universal tool that can be used by anyone to analyze their own life. In fact, I will be using the sociological imagination to analyze my own life and see how the three realms of influence have created the person I am