Problem
Americans and American culture tend to think in "individualist" ways. In other words, as Newman discusses, we tend to think that people's lives (as well as societal events and patterns) can be explained by individual people's choices and circumstances. What effect does the American belief in "individualism" have on the way Americans typically think about and explain social problems, such as poverty, violence, etc.? What solutions to problems are suggested by "individualism?" How does this compare to the solutions suggested by the sociological imagination? Give examples to illustrate. Chapters one and two will help you with this essay.