Mills maintains that sociology studies patterns of behavior in order to draw conclusions about a social issue that transcends the effect of that issue on any particular individual

Mills maintains that sociology studies patterns of behavior in order to draw conclusions about a social issue that transcends the effect of that issue on any particular individual. A behavior or event is “patterned” when it is recurrent.

Select a pattern in your everyday life to study, for example, in mass media use, dietary choices, musical preferences, or clothing styles.

Flesh out your “particular pattern” in detail with a focus on the activity (e.g., using Instagram) and relationships (e.g., using Instagram to communicate with peers).

Connect your particular, or personal, pattern to a more general pattern for a “group” or “category” of people who occupy a place, or position, in the social structure: (e.g., the core audience for heavy metal music is young while males). Is this a named pattern (e.g., Metal/Metalheads, Veganism/Vegans)?

What are the rules or “norms” that govern a general (i.e., cultural) pattern like social media use, musical taste, or dietary choice? For example, dietary choices may be governed by religious beliefs. Heavy Metal music relies exclusively on electric guitars and drums.

What can explain these patterns sociologically (e.g., heavy metal reflects the symbolic rebellion of young white males against adult authority; dietary choices reflect belief systems like religion and financial means).

Use the Notes and relevant literature to interpret this general pattern (e.g., “marriage”, “youth culture”, “Hip Hop”) as a “social institution”.

To what extent do you derive an individual identity from this pattern? How does this place you in relationships, or connect you to others and a group or collective identity? For example, you can cook without being identified as a cook (or chef).