Introduction to Sociology

Prepared by

FATIMA ZEHRA NAQVI

Prepared by
SESSION # 1
SESSION # 1
12th September, 2019
Contents:
 Introduction Of Sociology
 Definition Of Sociology
 Subject Matter Of Sociology
 Significance Of Sociology
 Sociology And Other Disciplines
 Sociological perspectives:
 Structural-functional
 Social conflict
 Symbolic-interaction
Introduction:
Sociology is the term coined by the
Frenchman Isidore Marie Auguste François
Xavier Comte in 1838

Sociology is a combination of two words.

The first part of

the term is a Latin, The other word,
Socius-that may logos, is of Greek
variously mean origin. generally
society, association, understood as study
togetherness or or science
companionship
Emergence of sociology:

Sociology as an academic science was

born in 19th century (its formal
establishment year being 1837) in Great
Britain and Western Europe, especially
in France and Germany, and it greatly
advanced through out 19th and 20th
centuries.
Definitions of Sociology:
 L.F. Ward defines, “Sociology is the
science of society or of social
phenomena”.

 Ginsberg says, “Sociology is the study

of human interaction and interrelation
of their conditions and consequences”.
 Emile Durkheim defines, “ Sociology as a
science of social institutions”.

 Ogburn and Nimkoff defines, “Sociology as

the study of social life”.

 Kimball Young defines, “Sociology deals

with the behavior of men in groups”.
Subject Matter of Sociology:
 The subject matter of Sociology is the inter-action of
human minds’. L.T. Hobhouse.
 Sociology is the study of society
 The science of social life
 The study of social relationships
 The study of human behavior in groups
 The study of forms of social relationships
 The study of social action
 The study of social groups and social systems
Significance/Importance of sociology:
 Sociology studies society in a scientific way
 Sociology throws more light on the social nature of man
 Sociology increases the power of social action
 Sociology studies role of the institutions in the development
of the individuals
 Study of sociology is indispensable for understanding and
planning of society
 Sociology is of great importance in the solution of social
problems
 Sociology has changed our outlook with regard to the
problems of crime
 Sociology has made great contribution to enrich human
culture
 Sociology is of great importance in the solution of
international problems
 The value of sociology lies in the fact that it keeps us update
on modern situations
 Study of society has helped governments to promote the
welfare of the tribal and marginalized communities
 Sociology is useful as a teaching subject
Sociology & Political Science
Political science deals with the political activities of
men.
It studies power, political processes, political
systems, types of government and international
relations. It deals with social groups organized under
the sovereign of the state.

sociology focuses on the social lives  of the masses

Whichever decision the government takes it is always
regulated by the society and for the society. Any
law is constructed, enforced or implemented
because it has something to do with the masses.
DIFFERENCES:

SOCIOLOGY POLITICAL SCIENCE

1. Science of state and government.

1. Science of society and relationship.
2. Scope is limited
2. Scope is wide
3. Special science
3. General science
4. Only studies politically organized
4. Studies unorganized and
society
disorganized society
5. Analyses only conscious activities
5. Analyses both conscious and
of man
unconscious activities of man
6. Deals with only one form of
6. Deals with all forms of association
association named state.
Sociology & Economics
Economics studies the aspects of production, consumption and the distribution
and exchange of the society.
The economic processes and developments improve one’s social life. Any
economic change would naturally affect one’s social life. As it is determined
by the social environment itself.  Economics is concerned with the material
wealth of man, and depending on his wealth it is determined that where he
should be placed in the society. His respect, status, and class are all results of
his monetary possessions.
Economic welfare is a part of social welfare. For the solution of different
economic problems such as inflation, poverty, unemployment etc. economists
takes the help of sociology and takes into account the social event of that
particular time.
Sociology
1. Science of society and social
relationships .
2. It studies all social
relationship
3. Sociology is a much
younger science which has
very recent origin
4. Concerned with the social
activities of man
Economics
1. Science of wealth and
choice.
2. It only studies those social
relationship which are
economic in character.
3. Economics is
comparatively an older
science.
4. Concerned with the
economic activities of man.
Sociology & Psychology

Psychology is a science of mind or mental processes.

Sociology is a science of collective behavior. It studies
human behavior in groups
As human mind and personality is being influenced by
social environment, culture, customs and traditions
hence psychology takes the help from Sociology to
understand this. To understand human nature and
behavior properly psychology depends on sociology.
There are many Psychological problems which must
have a Social Cause.
Sociology Psychology
 Science of society  Science of mind.
 scope of sociology is  Scope of psychology
wide is limited
 Society is the unit of  Individual is the unit
study in sociology of study in case of
 Studies
psychology
social processes
 Studies mental
 Analyses human behavior processes
from sociological angle  Analyses human
behavior from
psychological angles.
Sociological Perspectives:
 Today there are three approaches to the study of sociology.
 1. The Functionalist Perspective: They view society as a set of
interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable environment.
( Comte, Spencer, Durkheim)

 2.Conflict Perspective: They focus on the forces in society that promote

competition and change. ( Karl Marx)

 3.Interactionist Perspective: They focus on how individuals interact

with each other and there outcomes.
Functionalist Perspective:

 View of society as a set of interrelated parts that

work together to produce a stable social system
 Dysfunction
 A negative consequence of an element of society
 Manifest function
 The intended and recognized consequence of an
element of society
 Latent function
 Unintended and unrecognized consequence of an
element of society
Conflict perspective
Focuses on elements that create competition and change
Feminist perspective
A version of the conflict perspective that describes inequalities based on
gender

 Interactionist perspective
 Focuses on the interaction of individuals with each other
 Symbol
 Anything that represents something else
 Symbolic interaction
 Using symbols while interacting with others
 The interactionists also focus on the role that symbols play in
our daily lives.
 A symbol is anything that represents something else.
 Inorder for something to be a symbol, everyone in a society
must agree on what it means/stands for.
 Examples of symbols: American flag, Bald Eagle, Uncle Sam
are all symbols of America.
 Interactionists also focus on how people use symbols when
they interact. Its called Symbolic Interaction.