Course: Introduction to Sociology

Course Instructor: Mahnoor Syed

 Etymology

• the word sociology is derived from two languages

• the latin word socious >>> ‘companion’

• the greek word logy >>> ‘the study of’
 What is Sociology ?
• the science of/the sudy of:

• society,
• social institutions,
• social behavior, relationships, and social interactions
• social change
• Sociology is the study of human social behavior,
relationships, and social institutions. It examines how
individuals interact with each other within various
social structures and how society is organized and
functions. Sociologists study topics such as social
inequality, culture, family dynamics, social movements,
and the impact of social forces on individuals and groups.
 Society
• is a collection of groups and communities who interact:

• in a defined territory,
• under the same political authority,
• and have shared social structure, values and culture.
 Groups and Communities
• A group is a collection of individuals who interact with
each other and have an impact on one another.

• Community is derived from a latin word ‘Communis’

means ‘in common’.
• Community: a collection of social groups with a
geographical or abstract territory, that share a cultural and
historical legacy as well as commonalities based on
various factors such as race, ethnicity, politics, and
shared experiences. below are some charateristics of
communities:

• Common consciouness and identity.

• Community spirits and community sentiments.
• Common culture.
• Likeness is more important than differences.
 Values and Culture
• Values: An ideal or principle that determines what is correct,
desirable, or morally proper.
• individual or societal beliefs about what is important or
unimportant, right or wrong.

• Culture: all the ways of life that are passed on from one
generation to another. e.g. dress, language, arts,
literature, codes of conduct, traditions, customs and
rituals.
 Evolution of Societies
• Hunting and Gathering: Primitive societies in which
people used to hunt and gather food.
• Horticultural and Pastoral Societies: People started
growing vegetations with the help of simple tools.
• Agrarian: People start plowing on large agricultural
lands.
• Industrial: Mass production in industries.
• Post-Industrial: Boom in service sector, mental work.
 Social Institutions

• Organized societal systems that:

• meet human needs, societal needs

• shapes and govern human behavior
 Major Social Institutions
• Family
• Education
• Government/State
• Religion
• Economy
• Mass Media (Emerging Social Institution)
 Social Relationships
• How do we behave and interact with other people and
vice versa.

• exist between individuals, groups, communities, and

societies.
 Origin of Sociology
• In 14th Century, a muslim scholar Ibn e Khaldun
produced works that contained ideas related to sociology.
His book Muqaddimah contained the central concept of
asabiyyah, meaning “social cohesion” or “group
solidarity”.

• Striking changes took place in Europe during the

eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
 Age of Enlightenment
• An intellectual and cultural movement in the 18th
Century that emphasized reason over superstition and
science over blind faith.
• a philosophical movement of the 18th century marked by
a rejection of traditional social, religious, and political
ideas and an emphasis on rationalism.
• many philosophers contributed in the intellectual
movement, and challenged the dominance of church
• also known as the age of reason.
 French Revolution
• In the late 18th century France was on the brink of
bankruptcy due to widespread economic hardship,
societal inequalities, and corruption of royal officials.
• Society in France and Europe was based on rigid social
hierarchy, where the aristocracy and the clergy was
holding the power.

• This led to various social upheavels and masses

challenged established social structures.
• This overthrow of the monarchy, the dissolution of feudal
privileges, and the redistribution of land fundamentally
altered the social fabric of French society.

• Scholars and thinkers began to question the existing

social order and sought to understand the underlying
causes and consequences of the revolution. They
examined issues such as inequality, social mobility, power
dynamics, and the relationship between individuals and
society.
• The French Revolution was not a single event but a
series of developments that unfolded between 1789 and
1799.

• Thus, French Revolution catalyzed the development of

sociology by creating a context of social upheaval and
transformation.
 Industrial Revolution
• The process of industrial revolution began in 18th Century
in the Britain.
• New revolutionary technologies and inventions replaced
the production process, products could then be made my
machines rather than hands.
• Cottage industries were replaced by large scale prodiction
units. Farming techniques improved too.
• Transport was revolutionised too with the invention of
steam engines.
• Increased mobility, and new kinds of employment lead to
complex social relationships.
• Millions of people moved into cities and many people
turned away from their traditional religious beliefs.
• Mass Migration occurred, cities expanded, and various
social classess emerged.
• Simple rural life turned into complex relations, leading to
urbanisation.
• Traditions ways of life turned into modern ones.
• As society became more and more complex, social
problems started to emerge.
• Therefore, scientists and scholars felt the need to study
the society in a scientific way.
 Sociology as a Discipline
• The term sociology was first coined in 1780 by the french
essayist Emmanuel Joseph in an unpuished manuscript.
• Later in 1838, the term was reinvented by August Comte.
• Comte thought that social scientist can study sociology
using the scietific methods used by natural sciences.
• Science is a logical system that bases knowledge on
direct, systematic observation.
• He named the scietific study of social patterns
positivism.
• Positivism: a way of understanding based on science.
that can be scientifically verified and based on logical proof.

• He believed that using scientific methods to study society

will reveal the law of society.

• He held that once scholars identified the laws that

governed society, sociologists could address problems
 Relation of Sociology with other Social
Sciences
• Political Science: Political science is the study of politics,
government, and political processes.
• Political scientists analyze topics such as elections,
political parties, public policy, international relations, the
distribution of power and resources within society, and the
functioning of government at various levels.
• While sociology and political science have distinct
focuses, they intersect in several areas:

• Power and Influence: Both disciplines examine the

distribution and exercise of power within society.
• Social Movements and Activism: Both disciplines study
social movements, activism, and collective behavior.
• Public Opinion and Behavior: Both disciplines study
public opinion, political behavior, and voter attitudes.
• Policy Analysis: While political science focuses on the
study of public policy, sociology provides insights into the
social context and implications of policy decisions.
 Relationship between History and
Sociology
• Cultural and Social Evolution: Both history and
sociology study processes of cultural and social evolution.
• Temporal Perspective: History examines past events,
societies, and cultures, while sociology explores
contemporary society and social phenomena.
• Interdisciplinary Connections: Sociologists may draw
on historical data and analysis to inform their
understanding of social change, while historians may
employ sociological concepts and theories to analyze
social structures and dynamics in historical contexts.
 Relationship between Economy and Sociology

• Inequality and Social Stratification: Sociology examines

the distribution of resources, opportunities, and rewards
within society, including economic inequalities. While,
economy studies how the economic activities are being
carried out in society, the class system etc. Sociologists
study how social structures such as class, race, gender,
and education intersect with economic factors to shape
individuals' life chances and access to economic
resources.
 Relationship between Anthropology and Sociology

• Focus on Culture: Both disciplines study culture, but

anthropology places greater emphasis on the role of
culture in shaping human behavior and society.
• In summary, anthropology and sociology are closely
related disciplines that share a common interest in
understanding human behavior, culture, and society.
While they have distinct focuses and methodologies, they
often complement each other in providing insights into the
complexities of human social life.
Relationship between Psychology and Sociology

• Sociology and psychology both study human behavior,

but sociology focuses on how society influences
individuals, while psychology examines individual
behavior, thoughts, and emotions. Together, they provide
complementary perspectives on understanding human
behavior and social interactions.