What is Sociology?

Sociology is the study of societies and how humans act in groups. Sociology is a social science. People who study sociology are
called sociologists. A society is the community of people living in a particular country or region and having shared customs, laws,
and organizations.

Sociology as Science

Sociology is the scientific study of human groups.

It provides tools for understanding how and why our society functions, impact of social intuitions on individual lives, and the
challenges of social interaction between individuals and society. Through teaching, research, and service learning, the Sociology
program provides critical understanding of ways people relate to one another through the organization of society and how its
structures and cultures influence our lives. Subject matters of sociology ranges from family life to organizations, from crime to
education, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, from poverty to wealth. Few
fields have such a broad and exciting scope.

Sociology enables you to see the world in a new light. In a country like the United States where individualism is celebrated, it is
very easy to forget that the way we behave and feel is socially produced. Whether they be friendships, families, church groups,
socioeconomic classes, complex organizations, or nations, much of our lives are socially constructed. This is the basic premise of
sociology.

What is sociology as discipline?

Since its founding (or emergence?) in the nineteenth century, sociology has taken on a somewhat meandering set of topics for
study: classification of whole societies, analysis of large social factors (race, crime, urbanization), study of the behavior of groups,
provision of tools for social policy design, and study of particular institutions, social movements, globalization, and the
organization of businesses. In 2007 the American Sociological Association includes 44 sections devoted to particular topics and
methods. The methods of inquiry and the models of explanation are equally varied, including quantitative analysis of large data
sets, small-N comparisons, micro-sociological investigation, process-tracing, Marxism, functionalism, structuralism, and feminism.

Sociologists examine the shared meanings that humans attach to their interactions with one another, and they study human
experience as it unfolds within societies over time. They study social patterns that are stable and also those that are changing.

Characteristics of Sociology

Sociology is a branch of knowledge which has some unique features. It is different from other sciences in several respects. From
studying those characteristics will help one to understand the field of sociology. Below are the essential characteristics of
sociology.

1. It is an Independent Science
Sociology is a specific science having its own branches of knowledge. It does not come under the umbrella of other social or
physical sciences. It has its own code of study and a separate line from other sciences.

2. It Social Science not Physical

Sociology belongs to the family of social sciences and is considered as the mother of all social sciences. Other social sciences are
under the jurisdiction of sociology from one of other point of view. For this purpose it study the behavior, action and social
activities of a man.

3. It is a Categorical Science
Sociology is not concern to study the moral or immoral, right or wrong, good and evil problems. It studies the general phenomena
of social life for this it is a categorical science separate from the judgment of any type of value.

4. Pure Science
Sociology has its theoretical knowledge which is indispensible for sociologists, scientists and social worker as well as for
anthropologists. Its study does not interest in any law making or public policies and their implementation but study examine only
the social aspect of society that what is happening in the social situation. This study is important for scientists.

5. Sociology is Generalizing not Particular

There is no specification or limitation in the study of social system. It tries to find general law and principles about human
interaction and association.

6. General Science Not Special

The field of sociology is generalized. Other social sciences study a specific aspect of its study like economics, political science,
which is confined to a central point but the discipline of sociology is generalized.

7. Empirical Science
Rational and empirical are the two main approaches in scientific study. Sociology applies both the approaches on its stud.
Rationalization is the collection of facts while empirical is the arrangement and coordination of these facts. Facts and theories are
interrelated to each other’s. Theories without facts are empty and facts without theories are blind.

After this discussion easily understand the important characteristics of sociology that it is an independent general and social
science having its own theoretical study and importance in social life and apply the scientific approaches of rational and empirical.

Reasons why we should study Sociology

Sociology studies society in a scientific way

Before the emergence of sociology there was no systematic and scientific attempt to study human society with all its
complexities. Sociology has made it possible to study society in a scientific manner. This scientific knowledge about human society
is needed in order to achieve progress in various fields.

Sociology throws more light on the social nature of man

Sociology delves deep into the social nature of man. It tells us why man is a social animal, why he lives in a group, communities
and societies. It examines the relationship between individual and society, the impact of society on man and other matters.

Sociology increases the power of social action

The science of society assists an individual to understand himself, his capacities, talents and limitations. It enables him to adjust
himself to the environment. Knowledge of society, social groups, social institutions, associations, their functions etc. helps us to
lead an effective social life.

Sociology studies role of the institutions in the development of the individuals

It is through sociology that scientific study of the great social institutions and the relation of the individual to each is being made.
The home and family, the school and education, the church and religion, the state and government, industry and work, the
community and association, these are institutions through which society functions. Sociology studies these institutions and their
role in the development of the individual and suggests suitable measures for strengthening them with a view to enable them to
serve the individual better.

Study of sociology is indispensable for understanding and planning of society

Society is a complex phenomenon with a multitude of intricacies. It is impossible to understand and solve its numerous problems
without support of sociology. It is rightly said that we cannot understand and mend society without any knowledge of its
mechanism and construction. Without the investigation carried out by sociology no real effective social planning would be
possible. It helps us to determine the most efficient means for reaching the goals agreed upon. A certain amount of knowledge
about society is necessary before any social policies can be carried out.

Sociology is of great importance in the solution of social problems

The present world is suffering from many problems that can be solved through scientific study of the society. It is the task of
sociology to study the social problems through the methods of scientific research and to find out solution to them. The scientific
study of human affairs will ultimately provide the body of knowledge and principles that will enable us to control the conditions of
social life and improve them.

Sociology has drawn our attention to the intrinsic worth and dignity of man
Sociology has been instrumental in changing our attitude towards human beings. In a specialized society we are all limited as to
the amount of the whole organization and culture that we can experience directly. We can hardly know the people of other areas
intimately. In order to have insight into and appreciation of the motives by which others live and the conditions under which they
exist knowledge of sociology is essential.

Sociology has changed our outlook with regard to the problems of crime
 It is through the study of sociology that our whole outlook on various aspects of crime has change. The criminals are now treated
as human beings suffering from mental deficiencies and efforts are accordingly made to rehabilitate them as useful members of
the society.

Sociology has made great contribution to enrich human culture

Human culture has been made richer by the contribution of sociology. The social phenomenon is now understood in the light of
scientific knowledge and enquiry. According to Lowie most of us harbor the comfortable delusion that our way of doing things is
the only sensible if not only possible one. Sociology has given us training to have rational approach to questions concerning
oneself, one's religion, customs, morals and institutions. It has further taught us to be objective, critical and dispassionate. It
enables man to have better understanding both of himself and of others. By comparative study of societies and groups other than
his existence, his life becomes richer and fuller than it would otherwise be. Sociology also impresses upon us the necessity of
overcoming narrow personal prejudices, ambitions and class hatred.

Sociology is of great importance in the solution of international problems

The progress made by physical sciences has brought the nations of the world nearer to each other. But in the social field the
world has been left behind by the revolutionary progress of the science. The world is divided politically giving rise to stress and
conflict. Men have failed to bring in peace. Sociology can help us in understanding the underlying causes and tensions.

The value of sociology lies in the fact that it keeps us update on modern situations
It contributes to making good citizens and finding solutions to the community problems. It adds to the knowledge of the society.
It helps the individual find his relation to society. The study of social phenomena and of the ways and means of promoting what
Giddens calls social adequacy is one of the most urgent needs of the modern society. Sociology has a strong appeal to all types of
mind through its direct bearing upon many of the initial problems of the present world.

Study of society has helped governments to promote the welfare of the tribal and marginalized communities
The tribal and marginalized communities face many socio-economic and cultural problems. Studies conducted by sociologists and
anthropologists regarding tribal societies and problems have helped governments in undertaking social welfare measures and
programmes for the welfare purposes.

Sociology is useful as a teaching subject

Sociology is a profession in which technical competence brings its own rewards. Sociologists those trained in research procedures
are contributing in business, government, industry, social sector, communications and many other areas of community life.
Sociology has now become practical enough to be practiced in the other fields prominently in local, state, national and
international levels.

Areas of Sociology

1. Social Organization

Social organization refers to a pattern of relationships between and among different groups and individual people. Social
organization could be said to the fundamental basis of modern society, as it allows for the carrying out of very complex activities
that other members of society either participate in or are affected by.

Identifying and classifying different groupings of people is a crucial job for sociologists. Typically, sociologists define a group as
consisting of at least two members who:

 interact with each other,

 have a sense of identity or belonging,
 share norms or expectations that those outside the group do not.
While the larger society of a particular nation is itself an example of social organization, that society is in turn made up of a
collection of organized groups of interacting individuals. It is precisely how those groups interact and organize that sociologists
study.

Typically, when sociologists discuss social organizations, they are referring to:

 Social institutions, such as the family or school.

 Social groups, such as professional associations, or voluntary organizations like the Kiwanis Club or neighborhood associations.
 Social inequality, which groups people according to class, such as the middle-class, working class, underclass, upper class, etc.
 Religious groups, such as churches and affiliated charities.
 Bureaucracies, including government agencies administrative units.
2. Sociological Social Psychology

Sociological social psychology emphasizes the relationship between individual people and the larger social structures and
processes in which they participate. While the study of social organization and structure is the defining core of sociology, all social
structure comes out of interactions between individuals. So, to understand the significance, nature, and effects of social
structure, we need to understand the the people whose behavior constitutes that structure.

Major areas of study include deviance, socialization, group dynamics, health, race and ethnicity, and gender. Sociologists in this
field have studied some really interesting subjects, such as obedience and disobedience during the Holocaust, the psychological
consequences of work and family life, and the attitudes of minority groups to the cultural mainstream.

3. Social Change

Sociologists are interested in studying both “what is” and “what changes.” In this sense, social change refers to any alteration in
how a society is organized. Sociologists thus seek to explain the causes and affects of these social changes.

Some theories of social change emphasize evolutionary explanations. These theories hold that society develops from simple to
increasingly complex forms of organization. Social change, then, is linear and progressive.

Sociologists typically identify a few key factors that influence social change:

 The physical environment. Changes in the environment, such as climate change, may require different forms of social organization
in order for humans to survive. Very rapid changes in the physical environment can cause severe disruptions to social and cultural
life.
 Population changes. Migrations and conquest bring new people into new places, which in turn can lead to forms of social change.
 Isolation and contact. Societies that are cut off from the larger world may change very quickly once they come into contact with
outside cultures and peoples.
 Technology. Advances in technology, such as the car or airplane, can dramatically change social organization as these new
technologies offer new ways for people to interact.
Major topics of study for this field include: ecological changes, population, migration, technological change, new production
techniques, culture change, political processes, social transformation, modernization, mass communication, and the impact of
natural disaster.

4. Human Ecology

This is the study of the nature and behavior of a given population and its interaction with the surrounding environment.
Specifically, it focuses on how social structures adapt to the quality and quantity of natural resources and to the existence of
other human groups

Studies of this kind have shown the prevalence of mental illness, criminality, delinquency, prostitution, and drug addiction in
urban centers and other modern, developed locales.

5. Population and Demographics

This area of study is concerned with the study of population number, composition, change, and quality and how these factors
influence the larger economic, social, and political systems.

This area also focuses on things such as fertility and mortality rates, the impact of migration on the distribution of certain
populations. Examples of topics that sociologists in this field study include trends in population growth and how those trends are
affected by fertility, mortality, and migration rates, how population is distributed over a particular area (for example,
segregation), poverty and inequality.

6. Applied Sociology
This field is concerned with using sociological problems to solve social problems. For instance, some of the main social problems
where I live include squatters, prostitution, too-large families, nurse shortages, and poor nutrition. An applied sociologist would
bring his or her knowledge to bear on how to solve these problems.

Let's take a look and see what that might look like:

Squatters
Squatters are usually newcomers to urban areas who live on land or in buildings that don't belong to them. An applied sociologist
would wonder why squatters came to the city in the first place. The research variables to analyze would include the squatters'
background, their employment and educational history, their occupation and sources of income.

The sociologist might discover that squatters migrate to the city to find gainful employment but can't find a job that suits their
educational qualifications. They are usually farmers, fishermen, laborers on unskilled workers. Lack of income is the primary
reason squatters can't afford to buy their own house and land.

Prostitution
An applied sociologist might learn that prostitution and squatting have many of the same causes. Usually, squatter areas are
breeding grounds for prostitution, drug abuse, and illegal gambling. The research variables may still focus on low income and
unemployment.

Migration of Nurses
Why might nurses prefer to work in other countries? Likely because of the high salary that nurses can earn in the US, Europe, and
Canada. Compared to a staff nurse in a government hospital, nurses working abroad can make 10 times as much.

The research variables to study the migration of nurses include salary, overtime pay, the exchange rate, and the country that they
want to work.

Poor Nutrition
Since children are typically the ones most affected by poor nutrition, the research variables for this social problem would include:
the family income, food intake, and family employment. Low income and unemployment is usually the cause of poor nutrition.

7. Sociological Methods & Research

This field is concerned with the applicability of sociological principles and insights to study and regulate peoples' social
environment. It represents an effort to build and develop theories that can explain people's actions and behaviors.

PROPONENTS OF SOCIO

Émile Durkheim, one of the founding thinkers of sociology, was born in France on April 15, 1858. The year 2017 marks the 159th
anniversary of his birth. To honor the birth and life of this important sociologist, we'll take a look at why he remains so important
to sociologists today.

Durkheim's body of work as a researcher and theorist focused on how it is that a society can form and function, which is another
way of saying, how it can maintain order and stability (See his books titled The Division of Labor in Society and The Elementary
Forms of Religious Life). For this reason, he is considered the creator of the functionalist perspective within sociology. Durkheim
was most interested in the glue that holds society together, which means he focused on the shared experiences, perspectives,
values, beliefs, and behaviors that allow people to feel that they are a part of a group and that working together to maintain the
group is in their common interest.

In essence, Durkheim's work was all about culture, and as such, it remains deeply relevant and important to how sociologists
study culture today. We draw on his contributions to help make sense of what holds us together, and also, and quite importantly,
to help us understand the things that divide us, and how we deal (or don't deal) with those divisions.

Georg Simmel was an early German sociologist known for creating social theories that fostered an approach to studying society
that broke with the scientific methods used to study the natural world. He is also considered a structural theorist and was focused
on urban life and the form of the metropolis. A contemporary of Max Weber, Simmel is widely taught alongside him, as well as
Marx and Durkheim in courses on classical social theory.
Vilfredo Pareto, (born July 15, 1848, Paris, France—died August 19, 1923, Geneva, Switzerland), Italian economist and sociologist
who is known for his theory on mass and elite interaction as well as for his application of mathematics to economic analysis.
After his graduation from the University of Turin (1869), where he had studied mathematics and physics, Pareto became an
engineer and later a director of an Italian railway and was also employed by a large ironworks. Residing in Florence, he studied
philosophy and politics and wrote many periodical articles in which he first analyzed economic problems with mathematical tools.
In 1893 he was chosen to succeed Léon Walras in the chair of political economy at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Pareto’s first work, Cours d’économie politique (1896–97), included his famous but much-criticized law of income distribution, a
complicated mathematical formulation in which Pareto attempted to prove that the distribution of incomes and wealth in society
is not random and that a consistent pattern appears throughout history, in all parts of the world and in all societies.

Karl Emil Maximilian "Max" Weber

one of the founding thinkers of sociology, died at the young age of 56. Though his life was short, his influence has been long and
thrives today. His various works have been cited over 171,000 times.

To honor his life, we've assembled this tribute to his work and its lasting importance to sociology. Follow the links below to learn
all about Max Weber.

Max Weber's Greatest Hits

In his lifetime, Weber penned numerous essays and books. With these contributions, he is considered, along with Karl
Marx, Émile Durkheim, W.E.B. DuBois, and Harriet Martineau, one of the founders of sociology.

Given how much he wrote, the variety of translations of his works, and the amount written by others about Weber and his
theories, approaching this giant of the discipline can be intimidating.

This post is designed to give you a brief introduction to what are considered some of his most important theoretical
contributions: his formulation of the connection between culture and economy; conceptualizing how people and institutions
come to have authority, and how they keep it; and, the "iron cage" of bureaucracy and how it shapes our lives.

Charles Horton Cooley

was a sociologist who wanted to better understand society and human behavior. He believed that the influence of groups within
a society had a strong impact on human behavior. In this lesson, we will discuss primary groups, the theory of the looking-glass
self and the concept that one's self and society are distinctly one unit, not two.

Why Cooley Studied Groups and Social Behavior

Charles Horton Cooley was a sociologist who wanted to better understand why human beings behave the way they do. One of
Cooley's most important contributions to sociology was his idea that by studying everyday social interactions between people,
one could begin to better understand why people behave as they do. This is the basis of the interactionist perspective of
sociology. Cooley stated that to understand behavior, we must first understand the meanings humans attach to certain situations
and, thus, the behavior that is taught to go along with that situation. He believed that societies shape the lives of the people who
live within them.
Cooley's major contribution to sociology was the study of primary groups. Cooley coined the term 'primary group,' meaning that
this is the first group one is introduced to and is the most influential on our learning of ideas, beliefs and ideals. When observing
society, Cooley noticed that the more a society became industrialized, the more individualistic the members became. He saw that
the people became more distant from each other, more competitive and were losing the connection to traditional family values
and that of community. It was through his study of primary groups that Cooley hoped to instill more social unity and
cohesiveness.
While society has continued to evolve and change even at a more rapid pace, many of the social problems Cooley was concerned
with still exist today. However, with Cooley's research, we better understand the importance of social unity and society's
influence upon individuals.
William Isaac Thomas
(August 13, 1863 – December 5, 1947) was an American sociologist With the help of Polish sociologist Florian Znaniecki, W.I.
Thomas developed innovative work on the sociology of migration. Thomas then went on to formulate a fundamental principle of
sociology, known as the Thomas theorem. Through his theorem, Thomas contended that, "If men define situations as real, they
are real in their consequences"
Ferdinand Tönnies
26 July 1855 – 9 April 1936) was a German sociologist and philosopher. He was a major contributor to sociological theory and
field studies, best known for his distinction between two types of social groups, Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft. He co-founded
the German Society for Sociology, of which he was president from 1909 to 1933, after which he was ousted for having criticized
the Nazis. Tönnies was considered the first German sociologist proper,[1] published over 900 works and contributed to many areas
of sociology and philosophy.
Who is Thorstein Veblen
Thorstein Veblen was an economist and sociologist who lived from 1857 to 1929 and who is best known for coining the term
“conspicuous consumption” in his book “The Theory of the Leisure Class” (1899). He was interested in the relationship
between the economy, society, and culture. He analyzed the social order and believed that people made purchases to signal their
economic status and accomplishments to others. Veblen critiqued the consumption habits of the wealthy and questioned their
values. He coined the terms “conspicuous waste” and “pecuniary emulation” (striving to meet or exceed someone else’s financial
status). He also founded the school of institutional economics.

PIONEERS

Auguste Comte

was the first to develop the concept of "sociology." He defined sociology as a positive science. Positivism is the search for
"invariant laws of the natural and social world." Comte identified three basic methods for discovering these invariant laws,
observation, experimentation, and comparison. He is also famous for his Law of the Three Stages. These three stages are the
theological, metaphysical, and positivist. Comte discussed the difference between social statistics and social dynamics; which
have been renamed social structure and social change. Comte’s ideas have had a major role in developing structural
functionalism. His major goal was to integrate theory and practice.

Herbert Spencer

was a major figure in the intellectual life of the Victorian era. He was one of the principal proponents of evolutionary theory in
the mid nineteenth century, and his reputation at the time rivaled that of Charles Darwin. Spencer was initially best known for
developing and applying evolutionary theory to philosophy, psychology and the study of society -- what he called his "synthetic
philosophy" (see his A System of Synthetic Philosophy, 1862-93). Today, however, he is usually remembered in philosophical
circles for his political thought, primarily for his defense of natural rights and for criticisms of utilitarian positivism, and his views
have been invoked by 'libertarian' thinkers such as Robert Nozick.

Karl Marx

(1818 – 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, journalist and revolutionary who is one of the most influential figures in
history due to the impact of his theories on subsequent intellectual, economic and political history. His most famous works
include the Communist Manifesto, one of the world’s most influential political manuscripts; and Das Kapital, thefoundational
theoretical text of communist philosophy, economics and politics. Among the most influential theories of Marx are the theory of
historical materialism based on class struggle; and the theory of alienation of workers under capitalist conditions. Marx is
considered the father of modern sociology and his work in economics laid the foundation for understanding labor and its relation
to capital. Know about the contributions of Karl Marx to economics and sociology, as well as his theories regarding capitalism and
communism, through his 10 major accomplishments.

Max Weber

(born April 21, 1864, Erfurt, Prussia [Germany]—died June 14, 1920, Munich, Germany), German sociologist and political
economist best known for his thesis of the “Protestant ethic,” relating Protestantism to capitalism, and for his ideas
on bureaucracy. Weber’s profound influence on sociological theory stems from his demand for objectivity in scholarship and from
his analysis of the motives behind human action.