Private Troubles and Public Issues

In his text, The Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills (1978) was concerned with how society had become consumed by the collection of facts and data for the purpose of assisting societies decisions. He stated that the difference between poor sociological research and that, which excels, was up to the researchers sociological imagination. This imagination is the minds ability to grasp “history and biography and the relations between the two within society”(Mills as cited by Macionis & Plummer, 2005). Mills (1978) paved the way for further sociologists as they explored the concept of Sociological imagination and how it differentiates an individual's private troubles verse a public issue. (Macionis & Plummer, 2005)

A critical component of sociological imagination is to analyse how society affects an individual’s values, behaviour and character, as each is an integral part of the sociocultural system. This state of mind allows one to expand their view of society and see the bigger picture, and how a person situation may not be completely within their control. When Mills (1978) considered that sociological research was moving away from the theoretical understandings of society towards more administrative concerns, he urged researchers to go beyond just reporting back the facts. Mills suggested that research needed intellectual thinkers who wanted to emerge into the world of others and observe the reality of their everyday life. He believed that sociology goal was to convert personal problems into public and political issues. Mills (1978) did not only think this was just essential for professors of sociology, but something society on a whole should attempt to do. Mills (1978) does not discount that an individual’s actions do not lead to their private circumstances; he asks to look at a person’s private trouble as a broader public problem of society.

An example of a negative private problem in an individual’s life is unemployment, as feelings of failure are common when a person loses their job. There can be many factors that lead to individual becoming unemployed, and it can be a daunting task to re-enter the workforce. The person may consider their education, experience and age as factors impacting their chance. Not being employed can also hinder the person's chances of re-entering the workplace as a lack of income affects their opportunities, for example, transportation. An individual may struggle with being unable to find work, pay for living expenses and support

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