WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?

1. The study of human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization,
institutions, and development of human society.
2. Analysis of a social institution or societal segment as a self-contained entity or in
relation to society as a whole.
IMPORTANCE OF SOCIOLOGY?
The various disciplines of sociology include the study of social interaction between people.
The areas covered by sociology include the analysis of social contacts between members of a
society as also the interactions between different people around the world. Sociology
attempts to study how and why people are organized as a society. It analyzes the structure
of society and studies the factors that contribute to the creation of social groups.
Sociology includes the study of the behavioral patterns, interactions and relationships
among the individuals of society. This field tries to examine the organizational structure of
society and the influence it has on the social, political and religious ideas of the members. It
encompasses the study of the organization of families and businesses. It attempts to analyze
the creation and management of social groups as well as the factors, which lead to their
breakdown. The disciplines of sociology are concerned with the effects of social behavior on
the formation of social traits. It also includes the ethical and moral values of society.
Sociology is regarded as a branch of social sciences. It deals with the analysis of social
behavior that shapes society and thus, is a field that covers a very broad knowledge base.
The various disciplines of sociology include the study of social interaction between people.
The areas covered by sociology include the analysis of social contacts between members of a
society as also the interactions between different people around the world. Sociology
attempts to study how and why people are organized as a society. It analyzes the structure
of society and studies the factors that contribute to the creation of social groups.
Sociology includes the study of the behavioral patterns, interactions and relationships
among the individuals of society. This field tries to examine the organizational structure of
society and the influence it has on the social, political and religious ideas of the members. It
encompasses the study of the organization of families and businesses. It attempts to analyze
the creation and management of social groups as well as the factors, which lead to their
breakdown. The disciplines of sociology are concerned with the effects of social behavior on
the formation of social traits. It also includes the ethical and moral values of society.

Sociology is regarded as a branch of social sciences. It deals with the analysis of social
behavior that shapes society and thus, is a field that covers a very broad knowledge base.

BRANCHES OF SOCIOLOGY AND THEIR DEFINITIONS

Criminology is a branch of sociology that studies about the criminals, their

mind set and the effects of society on them. Also, the sociologists study the
crime rate and the common reasons of it.

Nationalism studies are the branch of sociology that studies the nationalistic
behavior and what causes it.

Sociobiology is the branch where several common diseases and the causes of
it as far as society is considered are studied. Some diseases are caused more
because of the society in general.

Socio-psychology is another important branch that studies the effects of

society on human psyche and also the behavior patterns of human beings
because of the society. Today, we have various types of people dealing with
different psychological problems. This branch of sociology studies about what
exactly is causing or promoting this kind of behavior.

Positivism,

Antipositivism,

Functionalism,

Conflict Theory,

Formal Theory,

Structure and Agency,

Socialization

Sociology of religion,

sociology of education,

political sociology,

sociology of law