Seeing the strange in the familiar enables sociologists to uncover social patterns that are usually overlooked, but it does not challenge the common-sense understanding of society.

Seeing the strange in the familiar means looking at everyday things in a new way to understand society better. Sociologists do this by noticing patterns in our behavior that we might take for granted, like how people interact in a café or how families celebrate holidays. For example, when someone observes a family gathering, they might see not just a fun event but also the roles and expectations that shape family dynamics. This perspective helps reveal deeper social structures, but it doesn’t always challenge what people commonly believe about their lives. Instead, it offers new insights that can enrich our understanding without directly contradicting our everyday experiences.