WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?

 Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of
human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies,
and how people interact within these contexts.
THE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY
1. SOCIAL INTERACTION - The principle of social interaction emphasizes the importance of social
relationships and the ways in which individuals and groups interact with each other.
2. SOCIAL STRUCTURE - The principle of social structure highlights the ways in which social
institutions and organizations shape society and influence individual behavior. The structure is
made by individuals, organizations, and communities. Social structure changes the living system
and interacts with good behavior. Examples of social structure are Family, Religion, Law,
Economy, and Class.
3. CULTURE - The principle of culture emphasizes the importance of shared values, beliefs, and
practices in shaping social behavior.
4. SOCIAL CHANGE - The principle of social change emphasizes the ways in which society evolves
and changes over time, often as a result of technological, economic, or political factors.
5. POWER AND INEQUALITY - The principle of power and inequality highlights the ways in which
social hierarchies and disparities in wealth, status, and power shape social behavior and
opportunities.
6. GLOBALIZATION - The principle of globalization emphasizes the interconnectedness of societies
and the ways in which economic, political, and cultural forces operate across national borders.
7. RESEARCH METHOD - The principle of research methods emphasizes the importance of
empirical evidence and scientific inquiry in understanding social phenomena and testing
sociological theories.
SOCIOLOGY’S EXAMPLE
1. Social networks - Sociology studies the ways in which individuals and groups interact through
social networks, including how social networks influence access to resources, opportunities, and
information.
2. Socialization - Sociology investigates how individuals are socialized into their cultures and how
this process influences their beliefs, values, and behaviors. This includes analyzing the role of
family, education, and other social institutions in socialization.
3. Globalization - Sociology examines the ways in which globalization is changing the nature of
work, communication, and social interactions. This includes analyzing the impact of global
economic and cultural exchanges on different societies.
4. Education - Sociology examines the impact of education on social outcomes, including how
education affects economic mobility, social status, and access to resources. This includes
analyzing the role of educational institutions in reproducing or challenging social inequality.
5. Cultural norms - Sociology studies the role of cultural norms in shaping individual and group
behavior, including how cultural norms vary across different societies and how they change over
time.
6. Race and ethnicity - Sociology studies the impact of race and ethnicity on social outcomes,
including how race and ethnicity influence access to resources, opportunities, and power. This
includes analyzing the role of racism and discrimination in shaping social inequality.
7. Crime and deviance - Sociology investigates the relationship between crime, deviance, and
social control in different societies. This includes analyzing the causes and consequences of
crime, as well as the social responses to crime.
THE HISTORY OF SOCIOLOGY
 The history of sociology can be traced back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Europe.
The term "sociology" was coined by Auguste Comte, a French philosopher and sociologist, in
1838. Comte believed that sociology was a scientific discipline that could be used to understand
and improve society.
 He believed that all societies develop and progress through the following stages: religious,
metaphysical, and scientific. The development of sociology was influenced by the
 Enlightenment, which emphasized reason, empiricism, and the scientific method. Many early
sociologists, such as Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx, were interested in
understanding the social changes brought about by industrialization and urbanization.
1. Durkheim, in particular, emphasized the importance of social facts, or the ways in which
social structures and institutions shape individual behavior. He believed that sociology could
be used to study social phenomena objectively, using scientific methods.
2. Weber, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of understanding subjective
meanings and interpretations in social behavior. He believed that sociology could be used to
understand the ways in which individuals and groups make sense of their social world.
3. Marx, meanwhile, focused on the role of economic structures and class relations in shaping
social behavior. He believed that sociology could be used to understand the ways in which
capitalist societies create and reproduce social inequality.
 In the 20th century, sociology continued to develop as a discipline, with the emergence of new
theoretical perspectives and research methods. The Chicago School of sociology, for example,
emphasized the importance of studying urban life and the ways in which cities shape social
behavior.
 Today, sociology remains an important discipline for understanding social phenomena, including
social inequality, social change, and the ways in which social structures and institutions shape
individual behavior.
FACTS ABOUT SOCIOLOGY
1. Sociology is the scientific study of human society, social behavior, and social interaction.
2. It is a social science that seeks to understand and explain patterns of human behavior and
social relationships.
3. Sociology emerged in the 19th century as a response to the social changes of the industrial
revolution.
4. Sociologists study a wide range of topics, including social inequality, social institutions, social
change, and social movements.
5. Sociological research methods include both quantitative and qualitative approaches, such as
surveys, experiments, participant observation, and interviews.
6. Some of the key sociological theorists include Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, and
Georg Simmel.
7. Sociologists often work in academic settings, but they may also work in government
agencies, non-profit organizations, and private industry.
8. Sociology has important applications in fields such as education, public health, criminal
justice, and urban planning.
9. Some of the major contemporary issues studied by sociologists include globalization,
environmental sustainability, and the impact of technology on society.
10. Sociology can help us understand the complexities of social life, and provide insights into
how we can build more just, equitable, and sustainable societies.