Sociology:: Ahsan Ali (44) Semester LLB (Hons) 1 GSLC, Hyd
Sociology:: Ahsan Ali (44) Semester LLB (Hons) 1 GSLC, Hyd
Socius
means “associate or companion” and logos means “Science or Study”.
Definition: Sociology is the scientific study of society, including patterns of
social relationships, social interaction, and culture.
It is the branch of philosophy which treat with the constitution,
phenomena and development of human society and social science.
It may also be defined as the study of the development, structure, and
functioning of human society.
Branches of sociology:
1. Historical sociology: It is the study about every historical aspect of any
event. A new civilization or any war has some effects on human beings
and the society. It studies ancient, medieval and modern historical
aspects related to Sociology.
2. Religion Sociology: Sections or subgroups of society follow a particular
religion which definitely imparts an effect on them. For example, a Hindu
person does not touch non-veg during Durga Pooja but a Muslim person
celebrates Bakra Eid by meat cutting. Society is governed by the religion
they follow .
3. Educational Sociology: The aims and objects of educational institutions
are studied in this field. The activities of institutions and problems arisen,
and relationship with other institutions in a society are also important
topics of inquiry.
4. Political Sociology: The origin, development, functions and problems of
the Govt. and various social implications in political movements are
studied in this field.
5. Sociology of Knowledge: It is the study of relationship between human
thought and social context within which it arises, and the affect prevailing
ideas on society.
6. Sociology of Family: In this branch, we study different methods of
parenting found in families. How different families can bring different
changes in a child is studied under this branch.
7. Sociology of Community: It analyzes the organization of both two
different rural and urban types of communities.
8. Sociology of Terrorism: The sociology of terrorism seeks to understand
terrorism as a social phenomenon and how individuals as well nation
states address it.
9. Sociology of Psychology: It deals with the mental activity of humans,
practical reasons for becoming a part of the society.
10. Sociology of Psychiatry: It deals with the conflict between society and
individual and its impacts on the individual organization re sulting in his
mental disorders and anti-social behavior.
AHSAN ALI (44)
LLB (HONS) 1 S T SEMESTER
GSLC, HYD.
11. Sociology of Economics: It studies the rate of production of any product
or growth rate of any product. Every person has a different economic
status in society. Due to the different economy, consumption of any
product differs.
12. Sociology of Law: Sociology of law looks at law and legal system as a
part of society and also as social institutions and changing with them. It
regards law as one means of social control.
It analyzes social roles of the lawyers and judges and how they relate
to structure of society. It also details with sociological analysis of legal
codes in long standing. Study of social norms central to sociology are
falls under this branch.
Relationship between Sociology & law:
Sociology and law are two interwoven topics. Sociology is directly
related to society and every society follows certain laws, therefore, laws
are related to and are essential part of society. The law is important to
regulate a society. Norms, customs and traditions, all these come under
the law, and if law did not exist, the society would not be less than a
jungle.
Laws are made and put into action through difference societal
processes. Social institutions such as family, polity, as well as legal
institutions comprise of different laws.
Law is essential for regulating human conduct and social control.
Change in one can affect other: As law regulates the
society, so the law changes with change of society. In other words,
change in society brings change in law.
For example: As the world is modernizing and usage of internet and
social media has increased, but along with this rate of social crime is also
increasing. This resulted to make Cyber Law, so the need of society
brings new laws as well.
Social Law: Social law refers to the interactions of organisms with
each other. The interaction between organisms may be irrespective of
whether they are aware of it or not, or whether the interaction is voluntary
or involuntary.
Economics: The branch of knowledge concerned with the production,
consumption and transfer of wealth. OR Economics is a science, which
studies about unlimited human wants, limited resources and making a best
possible choice out of it.
For example: If you have 100rs and you want to buy a book worth 99rs and
a chocolate worth 50rs, you'll have to prioritize which is important for you. If
you choose to buy the book, then you're giving up the chocolate. This kind of
Social System:
An organization of individuals into groups or structures that have
different functions, characteristics, origin or status. OR the patterned series
of interrelationships existing between individuals, groups, and institutions
and forming a coherent whole is called social system.
For example: The main examples of social structure in Sociology are
the family, religion, economic, political and education institutions.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL SYSTEM:
Social system refers to the way a society is organized. Main elements
of social system are as under:-
Institutions: These include the things like family and politics and their
relationship with one another.
Social Groups: These are the smaller groups that have something in
common with one another. This could be something as small as family
or as large as a religion.
Status: Within each social group people have different statuses. For
example you can be the child in a family or you can be the husband.
Roles: These are the expectations that go with your family. For
example, a child in a family is expected to obey parents, but a child in
not expected to support the family.
Social Structure:
Social structure means the relationships or bonds between groups of
individuals in a society. A society always consists of social groups.
Individuals always associate themselves in groups according to their
interests, occupation, social status etc.
For example: The family unit is the universal social structure. The head of this social
structure is parent, and the children are cared for and directed via that structure. OR
One example of a social structure is social class i.e. upper-class, middle-class, and
poor.
Subject Matter of Sociology:
Man’s all such behaviours which are termed as “social” lie in the field of sociology.
The subject covers a large number of areas in its study. The specialized areas of
inquiry include problems, phases of social life and institutional structure.
Social problems : Poverty, crime and delinquency, vice, sectarianism,
physical and mental diseases.