Sociologists use different methods, theories and approaches to research and understand the social world. Functionalists and Marxist study how society influences the human behaviour. (Haralambos and Holborn, 2000, p. 9-13) In contrast, Social Interactionists interested in how individuals can shape society. (Haralambos and Holborn, 2000, p. 1056-1060) In his work C. Wright Mills (2000) argued that, there is an inter-relationship between ‘the history of society’ and the ‘life of an individual’. He made a connection between personal aspects and social, historical conditions. (Mills, 1959:3) Therefore, sociologist should study history, individuals and society structures at the same time, through the glasses of Sociological Imagination.

In his notion Mills (2000) describes social reality as a three dimensional entity. It is based on the biography of individuals, their personal, unique and private desires/troubles. It is influenced by the social structures, institutions and vice versa. From a historical aspect, events, processes and issues may influence the future of the individual and/ or the social structures. It is also heavily impacted by social and political power. (John D Brewer, 2004, p. 7) In reality for example, unemployment is a personal trouble, affecting one’s personal milieu, such as financially, psychologically, socially. This private problem could turn into a wilder social issue, if unemployment reach a larger scale, such as hundreds of people losing their job, because for example a factory shuts down. This could lead deindustrialisation in the area, recession and migration of the workers. Further, it links the country’s economy decline, affecting the industry (prices) and impacts the political landscape as well. (Buchan, 2018) With the Social Imagination sociologist can examine every aspect (individual, history and social-political structure) in context to each other to explain a public issue or a personal problem. It gives them the ability to shift their perspective, see the bigger picture and predict a future outcome based on their observations. It also providing a viewpoint from the social problem, showing where the structure needs change or alteration, such as make housing more affordable or have more welfare programs.

The importance of the Social Imagination is not just that it gives an observed understanding of the world, but encourage sociologists to connect personal experiences to society in a context of history to explore public issues rigorously. (Gane and Back, 2012, p. 405) Also, Mills’ ideas are universal to everyone who wants to see the world in a different perspective and understand it better.