Sociology is a branch of social sciences that deals with the study of the social lives of societies, groups, and individuals. As a social science, it covers a wide range of concepts ranging from the study of individual behaviors as a social being which entails the interaction of individuals to the societal processes all over the world. Sociology as a discipline of human science involves the systematic study of culture, relationships, and the society at large (Adorno, 2018). Sociologists are faced with so many real-life situations which require a comprehensive understanding of the social aspect of human beings, culture, groups of people, and society. Issues such as racism, gender inequalities, and social status are among the social concerns that sociology uses proven concepts and theory to explain their manifestation in society.
Sociology, just like other studies of human behavior and thought it revolves around humanity and society. Sociology differs from other fields of social sciences in several aspects. For instance, psychologists and sociologies may have a similar concern, but sociology uses different study approaches to deal with it. A psychologist is mostly concerned with individuals, while sociology mainly focuses on societal levels. Unlike history which is concrete and deals with the past, sociology is abstract and is concerned with the present society concerns
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Sociology rapidly developed in the nineteenth century and this is attributed to several active sociology theorists of that time. The theorists who contributed to the development of sociology in the nineteenth century are commonly referred to as the founders of sociology, and they include Auguste Comte (1798-1857) and Herbert Spencer (1820-1903). Auguste Comte, famously known as the "father of sociology" is the first person to use the term "sociology" while referring to the study of society. He propagated the idea that human beings cannot use superstition or speculation to solve social problems; rather, they should rely on the scientific knowledge that is based on evidence and facts (Baehr, 2017). The French philosopher believed that societies progress and develop through three major stages, namely religious, metaphysical, and scientific. Herbert Spencer, on the other hand, propagated the concept that the society is composed of interdependent parts just like a living organism. Since all the parts in the community are interconnected, a change in one part causes a change in another part; thus, all components must work collectively to ensure the wellbeing of the whole community. The several parts of the community, according to Herbert, include religion, industry, government, education, and family among many more. These theorists, among many others, helped in creating a basis upon which the modern sociology theories are founded.
In the study of sociology, several theories and concepts help in giving an insight into human and social behavior. Social imagination theory is one of the essential modern sociology theories. The social imagination theory was introduced by Wright C Mills, a famous sociologist. The social imagination provides sociologist with a process through which they can establish a connection between a social issue and a personal experience. This theory can be used by sociologists to deal with real-life situations in the United States efficiently. For example, there is a rapid increase in the LGBT population in the United States. This is a social concern, and the social imagination theory can be used systematically to establish this issue with personal experience. A sociologist can determine the factor such as teenage sexual activities, sexuality portrayed in the media as well as sex education in school, and how they each contribute to the increase in the LGBT population. In summary, sociology is significant in society since it explains social issues and comes up with alternative remedies to make the community better.
References
Adorno, T. W., (2018). Introduction to sociology. John Wiley & Sons.
Baehr, P., (2017). Founders, classics, canons: Modern disputes over the origins and appraisal of sociology's heritage. Routledge.
