Have you ever wondered why individuals and societies are so varied?
Do you ask what social forces have shaped different existences?
The quest to understand society is urgent and important, for if we cannot understand the social world, we are more likely to be overwhelmed by it. We also need to understand social processes if we want to influence them.
Sociology can help us to understand ourselves better, since it examines how the social world influences the way we think, feel, and act.
It can also help with decision-making, both our own and that of larger organizations.
Sociologists can gather systematic information from which to make a decision, provide insights into what is going on in a situation, and present alternatives.
9. EVOLUTION OF SOCIOLOGY
• The term sociology was first used by Frenchman Auguste
Comte in the 1830s when he proposed a synthetic science
uniting all knowledge about human activity.
• The idea of applying the scientific method to the social world,
known as positivism, was apparently first proposed by
Auguste Comte (1798-1857). He was French. He migrated
from a small town to Paris. The changes he himself
experienced, combined with those France underwent in the
revolution, led Comte to become interested in the two
interrelated issues: social order (social static) and social
change (social dynamics). 9
14. EVOLUTION OF SOCIOLOGY
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917).
• He was French. His primary goal was of getting sociology
recognized as a separate academic discipline. His systematic
study comparing suicide rates among several countries revealed
an underlying social factor: People were more likely to commit
suicide if their ties to others in their communities were weak. He
identified the key role of social integration in social life.
Max Weber (1864-1920).
• Max Weber was a German. He used cross-cultural and
historical materials in order to determine how extensively
social groups affect people's orientations to life 14
17. BRANCHES/FIELDS OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology of Religion; This branch studies the structure of the
religion in social system as no society is free from the influence of it. It
analyses the social behavior of human beings. It also studies the
religious constitutions and their role in the society. Augste Comte,
Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer did the study of elementary forms of
religious life.
Political Sociology; This branch of sociology studies different
political moments of the society. It includes the study of different
political ideology (view), their origin, development and functions. In this
study, different political parties are considered as social institutions.
Various activities and behavior of political parties are studied in this
branch. As they are the part of social system. 17
19. BRANCHES/FIELDS OF SOCIOLOGY
Rural Sociology; This branch of sociology studies the way of life of
rural people as the rural population is higher than the urban. The patterns of
life such as behavior, belief, culture, tradition norms, values, etc. are totally
different than of urban people. So, it studies the rural society in scientific way.
It also studies rural life, social institutions, social structure, social processes,
etc. of the rural society.
Sociology of Law; Sociology of law and legal system are considered
as the part of society, as social institution. Law is one of the very important
means of social control. Law is related with other different social sub
systems. Such as economy, nature of distribution, authority, structure of
family kinship relationships, etc. So, this branch of sociology is related to
moral order for the society as formulation and implementation of rules and
regulations, law and order come under this. 19
20. BRANCHES/FIELDS OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology of Demography; Demography of scientific
mathematical and statically study of population. It studies about size,
situation, composition, density, distribution, and measurement etc. of the
population. In this branch of sociology, we study the distribution of human
population with the analysis of population change in sociological
perspectives. It also finds out the determining factors of population
change and its trend.
Sociology of Economy; This branch of sociology studies production,
distribution, consumption and exchange of goods and services. This
branch also studies the economic activities of the society in which the
focus is given about the socio-cultural factors. The access in production,
the mode of distribution, the real consumers, the role of culture in such
activities are studied under it. Eg. “Why Moslems don’t eat pork?” 20
21. BRANCHES/FIELDS OF SOCIOLOGY
Theoretical Sociologist; It includes micro theory or
small/middle/large theory. The theories of Karl Marx, August Cimte,
Max Wever, Emmile Durkhaim, Sorokin, etc are studied under the
theories of sociology. Eg. The theories of “Economic determinism” and
the theory of “Class Struggle” of Karl Marx. Eg. “Theory of Sucide” by
Emmile Durkhaim.
Sociology of Psychology (Socio-psychology); Social
psychology is the study of how people are shaped and affected by their
social environments. Social psychologists, while looking at the role that
society plays on an individual, are more interested in the role that a
person’s interpretation of stress, social challenges, prejudice, criminal
activity, etc., plays in their mental and emotional functioning. 21