What is Sociology?
“Sociology" essentially means understanding the study of human society, looking at how people
interact within groups and larger social structures. It is the study of social life, social change, and
the social causes and consequences of human behavior.
Meaning & Definition
Meaning
The first social scientist to use the term sociology was a Frenchman by the name of Auguste
Comte who lived from 1798-1857. As coined by Comte, the term “sociology” has been derived
from two words
The first part of the term is a Latin, socious- means companionship
The other word, logos, is of Greek origin. It literally means to study, speak about or
word.
According to Baren & Byren
“Sociology is the science to study social structure and
cultural structural of society.”
“Sociology is the study of social actions”. ( Max Weber)
A society is a group of people whose members interact, reside in a definable area,
and share a culture
a group of people who live in a defined geographic area who interact and share a
common culture
A group is any collection of at least two people who interact with some frequency
and who share some sense of aligned identity
A culture includes the group’s shared practices, values, beliefs, norms and
artifacts/ is common way of life shared by a society or a group.
sub – culture
a sub – culture can be a culture existing within a larger, dominant culture.
Relationship of sociology with other sciences
Sociology & Psychology
Sociology is the science of society while Psychology is the science of mental
process of mind.
Sociology and psychology both are involved in solving social problems.
Sociology helps psychology while psychology help sociology. Thus thy are
interrelated in many respects.
Difference B/W sociology & Psychology
Sociology Psychology
Sociology study the group Psychology study behavior &
mental process
Sociology study the society Psychology study the
personality
Sociology take interest in Psychology often study the
small and large socities large societies and groups
Sociology uses observation, Collect information through
survey during the research interview, observation and
using psychological tests
Sociology and political science
Political science
Political science is the science of state and government. It studies power,
political system, political process and international relations.
Sociology and political science are very closely and deeply related with
each other, one is meaningless without other.
According to Morris
“Historically Sociology has its roots in political science and philosophy
of history.” Thy are dependent on each other.
Example
Government makes laws for welfare of society, removes eveils like
poverty, unemployment and crimes etc.
Sociology and Anthropology
Sociology and anthropology involve the systematic of study of social
life and culture in order to understand the causes and consequences of
human actions.
Difference B/W Sociology and Anthropology
Sociology Anthropology
It studies small as well as large Studies human primitive culture
socities
Make use of observation, interview, Directly go and live in the
social survey, questionnaire and other communities they study.
methods to investigate.
Focuses on social problems and Focuses on culture and community
institutions
Sub fields: gender studies, Sub fields: linguistics ,forensic
criminology, social work anthropology
Goals of sociology
Describe the structure, function, pattern, and process of human social
behavior.
Explain the causes and effects of human social behavior.
Predict the development of human social behavior.
1. Understand & explaining the social world
2. Uncovering patterns and trends
3. Promoting social change and injustice
4. Providing insight for policy and decision-making
5. Enhancing critical thinking and reflexibility
6. Encouraging empathy and understanding
Micro vs Macro sociology
Micro sociology Macro sociology
"micro" refers to the study of while "macro" focuses on
small-scale, everyday large-scale social structures,
interactions between systems, and patterns
individuals or small groups affecting entire populations,
Micro-level sociology looks essentially looking at the
at small-scale interactions "big picture" of society
between individuals, such as Macro-level sociology looks at
conversation or group large-scale social processes,
dynamics such as social stability and
example, a micro-level change.
study might look at the macro-level analysis might
accepted rules of research the ways that
conversation in various language use has changed
groups such as among over time or in social media
teenagers or business outlets
professionals analyzing how economic
how individuals interact in a policies impact
small group, like a family unemployment rates across a
dinner conversation whole country
