Discover Sociology Discover Sociology Know that many personal troubles cannot be solved merely as troubles, but must be understood in terms of public issues C and in terms of the problems of history making. Know that the human meaning of public issues must be revealed by relating them to personal troubles C and to the problems of individual life. Know that the problems of social science, when adequately formulated, must include both troubles and issues, both biography and history, and the range of their intricate relations. Within that range the sociological imagination has its chance to make a difference in the quality of human life in our time.
Human beings are social animals.
They live in groups and do most things with other people. Much of what we think, say, and do is influenced by what others expect of us and by how others treat us. They try to clarify what is going on, what lies behind it, what is likely to come from it, and what might be done differently. Their theories and research findings can provide insights into processes and events that affect us in our everyday lives. Perhaps you have wondered why some families get along fine while others seem mired in problems, why some people get involved in criminal careers while others resist temptations, why some companies are much more productive than others, why some government programs succeed while others backfire.