Sociology and anthropology are separate, but related, branches oI the social sciences that study

humans and society. Once anthropology and sociology were similar in how they studied humans,
but in the early part oI the 20th century, their methodologies and Ioci diverged.
Sociology
4 Sociology is the study oI human social behavior and primarily Iocuses on
studying large-scale, complex, modern Western societies.
.397opology
4 nthropology is the study oI all people in all times and places and has historically
Iocused on small-scale, traditional non-Western societies, although this is
changing because anthropological tools have Iound to be useIul in understanding
all cultures.


397opology vs Sociology
The study oI human beings can be the study oI a liIetime. Trying to understand human behavior
has been a task that has occupied some oI the greatest thinkers oI our race Ior thousands oI years.
Disciplined study oI the human race has been taking place since the Renaissance. Today there
are many Iields and sub-Iields oI study. While humankind is the subject matter oI all these Iields
the philosophical approach to study varies Irom discipline to discipline. It may not be apparent at
Iirst, but there are some diIIerences between anthropology and sociology.
DeIinition oI nthropology and Sociology
O nthropology ' is a social science that is concerned with human culture as well as the
physical and social characteristics that create that culture. OIten it will compare one
group oI humans to another or even compare humans with animals.
O Sociology ' is a social science that studies the Iunctionality oI human society including
origins, development, and organization. It will also look at these attributes inside
institutions and organizations.
History oI nthropology and Sociology
AnLhropology ' human belngs have been observlng and recordlng Lhe behavlor of oLhers slnce Lhe
dawn of civilization Some credlL PerodoLus and 1aclLus wlLh belng Lhe flrsL anLhropologlsLs Powever
lL wasn'L unLll Lhe laLe elghLeenLh cenLury LhaL a codlfled sLudy of oLher culLures began 1radlLlonally
anLhropology has been abouL WesLerners sLudylng Lhe culLure of less Lechnologlcally advanced peoples
ln some lnsLances Lhe sLudy of anLhropology led Lo raclsL Lheorles abouL Lhe overall advancemenL of
dlfference groups
O Sociology ' has also been practiced since the Greek period as a study oI one`s
surrounding society. However, it wasn`t until the late nineteenth century that sociology
was recognized as an academic discipline and became part oI university curriculum.
Focus oI nthropology and Sociology
O nthropology ' is interested in the overall culture oI a group oI people. This includes
social institutions, art, history, mythology, and common mores, among other traits.
nthropologies now study societies all over the world, but look Ior overarching themes
that are reinIorced through case studies. It also includes archeology, and due to a great
amount oI substantive speculation is thought to be a soIter science than sociology.
O Sociology ' is a quantitative social science. Most theories are based on polls, statistical
analysis, sampling, and large collections oI liIe histories. Sociologists strive to be as
impartial and scientiIic as possible as they gather data. The data analyzed by sociologists
is oIten used by government oIIicials and market researchers alike.
Summary:
1. nthropology and sociology are both Iields oI social science that study the behavior oI
humans within their societies.
2. Traditionally anthropology dealt with the study oI cultures diIIerent Irom one`s own,
especially those less advanced while sociology was used to understand one`s own society.
3. Today anthropology tends to look at the big picture oI human culture while sociology spends
more time analyzing data Irom a speciIic study.
4. nthropology is considered to be a soIter science than sociology as it bases more oI its
conclusions on case studies than hard data.