Which of the following would be an example of the sociological imagination in social psychology?

• A. Explaining someone's behavior based only on their personality traits
• B. Assuming that social problems are caused only by individual failings
• C. Attributing a person's success solely to their personal motivation and hard work
• D. Understanding how unemployment rates in a community are influenced by broader economic policies rather than just individual choices

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of sociological imagination, which involves seeing the connection between individual experiences and larger social forces or structures.
2. Step 2: Recognize that sociological imagination requires looking beyond personal traits or choices to consider how societal factors influence behavior and outcomes.
3. Step 3: Analyze each option by asking whether it links individual behavior or outcomes to broader social contexts or if it focuses only on personal characteristics.
4. Step 4: Identify that explanations based solely on personality traits, individual failings, or personal motivation do not incorporate the broader social context and thus do not reflect sociological imagination.
5. Step 5: Conclude that understanding how unemployment rates are influenced by broader economic policies exemplifies sociological imagination because it connects individual experiences to larger social and economic structures.