Final answer:
The term used to describe 'thinking ourselves away' from the familiar to gain a sociological perspective is the 'sociological imagination.' This concept encompasses an understanding of the connection between personal experience and the larger social and historical context.
Step-by-step explanation:
When we "think ourselves away" from the familiar routine to see things in different, more sociological perspectives, we are engaging in what is known as sociological imagination. This concept was defined by C. Wright Mills as an awareness of the relationship between an individual's experience and the wider culture that shapes one's choices and perceptions. It involves looking at behaviors, including one's own, in relation to history and social structures in order to gain a better understanding of society and our place within it. George Herbert Mead's notion of the 'self', developed through social interaction and being able to see ourselves as others see us, is also crucial in this context. Moreover, Charles Cooley's concept of the 'looking glass self' illustrates how our self-understanding is shaped by our perceptions of how others view us.