Disciplines of Social Sciences
Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, and Political Science
Sociology
What is Sociology?
The scientific study of society, social relationships, and social institutions. It examines how people interact in groups and how society shapes human behavior.
Father of Sociology: Auguste Comte (coined the term in 1838)
Key Concepts
- Socialization: Process of learning society's norms and values
- Social Structure: Organized patterns of relationships
- Social Institutions: Family, education, religion, economy, government
- Social Stratification: Ranking of groups based on wealth, power, prestige
- Culture: Shared beliefs, values, behaviors of a group
Major Theoretical Perspectives
Functionalism (Durkheim)
Society as a system of interconnected parts working together
Conflict Theory (Marx)
Society shaped by struggles between competing groups
Symbolic Interactionism (Mead)
Society built through everyday interactions and symbols
Social Groups
- Primary Groups: Close, personal (family, friends)
- Secondary Groups: Formal, impersonal (organizations)
- In-Group: Group one belongs to
- Out-Group: Groups one doesn't belong to
- Reference Group: Group used for comparison
- Peer Group: Similar age/status
Psychology
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of mind and behavior. It examines how people think, feel, and act as individuals.
Father of Modern Psychology: Wilhelm Wundt (1879 - first psychology lab)
Major Perspectives
Psychoanalytic (Freud)
Unconscious mind, childhood experiences shape behavior
Behaviorism (Skinner, Watson)
Behavior learned through conditioning and environment
Cognitive (Piaget)
Mental processes: thinking, memory, problem-solving
Humanistic (Maslow, Rogers)
Free will, self-actualization, personal growth
Freud's Structure of Personality
Id
Pleasure principle, instincts, unconscious
Ego
Reality principle, mediator, conscious
Superego
Morality principle, conscience
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Self-Actualization
Fulfilling potential
Esteem Needs
Achievement, recognition
Love & Belonging
Relationships, connection
Safety Needs
Security, stability
Physiological Needs
Food, water, shelter
Branches of Psychology
- Clinical: Mental disorders and therapy
- Developmental: Changes across lifespan
- Social: How others influence behavior
- Cognitive: Mental processes
- Industrial/Organizational: Workplace behavior
Anthropology
What is Anthropology?
The scientific study of humans, their origins, physical characteristics, cultures, and social relationships across time and space.
Key Approach: Holistic (studies humans as whole beings)
Four Fields of Anthropology
Physical/Biological Anthropology
Human evolution, genetics, primatology, forensics
Cultural/Social Anthropology
Living cultures, customs, beliefs, practices
Archaeology
Past cultures through material remains
Linguistic Anthropology
Language, communication, meaning
Key Concepts
- Ethnocentrism: Judging other cultures by one's own standards
- Cultural Relativism: Understanding cultures in their own context
- Participant Observation: Living within a culture to study it
- Ethnography: Detailed description of a culture
- Diffusion: Spread of cultural elements between societies
Culture Components
- Material Culture: Physical objects, artifacts
- Non-Material Culture: Ideas, beliefs, values
- Symbols: Objects with shared meaning
- Language: Communication system
- Norms: Rules of behavior
- Values: Ideas about what's important
Political Science
What is Political Science?
The systematic study of politics, government, and political behavior. It examines how power is distributed and exercised in society.
Father of Political Science: Aristotle
Key Concepts
- State: Political entity with sovereignty over a territory
- Government: Institution that makes/enforces laws
- Power: Ability to influence others' behavior
- Authority: Legitimate, recognized power
- Sovereignty: Supreme power within a territory
- Legitimacy: Acceptance of government's right to rule
Forms of Government
- Democracy: Rule by the people
- Autocracy: Rule by one person
- Oligarchy: Rule by a few
- Theocracy: Rule by religious authority
- Monarchy: Rule by king/queen
- Republic: Elected representatives
- Totalitarianism: Complete state control
- Authoritarianism: Limited political freedom
Political Ideologies
Liberalism
Individual rights, limited government, free markets
Conservatism
Tradition, social stability, gradual change
Socialism
Public ownership, wealth redistribution
Nationalism
Nation/state identity, patriotism
Subfields of Political Science
- Comparative Politics: Comparing different political systems
- International Relations: Relations between nations
- Political Theory: Ideas about politics and justice
- Public Administration: Government implementation of policies
- Public Policy: Government decisions and actions