Sociology & Three Social Sciences

SOCIOLOGY

Sociology is an academic field that explores and discusses important issues in our daily lives,
our communities, and the global community (Department of Sociology, 2018). At personal
level, sociology studies how societal forces shape and are shaped by individual experiences
such love, racial and gender identity, family conflict, deviant behavior, aging, and religious
conviction (Hess & Frickel, 2014). At societal level, sociology investigates and explains
social phenomena including prejudice and discrimination, crime and law, poverty and wealth,
schools and education, business organizations, urban communities, and social movements. At
global level, sociology examines issues including population expansion and migration,
conflict and peace, and economic growth on a global scale (Bhambra, 2013).

RELATIONSHIP OF SOCIOLOGY WITH ANY THREE SOCIAL

SCIENCES

Sociology, as a social science, has significant relationships and overlaps with several other
social sciences (Stokes, 2007). It wouldn’t be inaccurate to state that sociology is the
fundamental social science, containing all other sciences within it. Life for a man has many
facets. It has elements related to the economy, politics, religion, and much more. Other social
disciplines have benefited greatly from sociology’s contributions, which go beyond simple
borrowing. Sociology has given other social sciences new directions and dimensions. Three
of the most notable social sciences that share a strong connection with sociology are
anthropology, psychology, and political science.

1. Anthropology: Anthropology is the study of human beings and their societies in a

holistic manner, encompassing their culture, history, language, and physical traits. To
comprehend the origins and effects of human action, sociology and anthropology require
the systematic study of social life and culture. Both Western and non-Western
civilizations' traditional cultures and contemporary, industrial society are the subject of
sociological and anthropological study (Fabinyi, Evans, & Foale, 2014). Sociology and
anthropology often intersect in their focus on the study of human societies and cultures.
The relationship is so close that Anthropologists like A.L. Kroeber consider Sociology
and Anthropology as twin sisters. While sociology primarily examines contemporary
societies, anthropology tends to have a broader temporal scope, including the study of
past societies and extinct cultures. However, both disciplines share similar theoretical

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perspectives and research methods, such as participant observation, ethnography, and

comparative analysis. They both aim to understand the social, cultural, and structural
aspects of human societies and how they shape individuals and groups within them. The
development of sociology is influenced by anthropology. Sociology cannot be fully
studied without the aid of ethnography. It belongs to the discipline of sociology.
Information about prehistoric civilizations is provided by anthropology. Anthropology is
used by sociology to gain a complete knowledge of contemporary society.

2. Psychology: Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.
Sociology and psychology are closely related as they both explore human behavior, but
they differ in their levels of analysis. Sociology tends to focus on the social context and
external factors that influence human behavior, while psychology delves into the
individual-level psychological processes that drive behavior. However, both disciplines
often overlap in areas such as social psychology, which examines how social factors
impact individual behavior, and sociology of emotions, which explores the social
construction of emotions and their effects on behavior.
Psychology offers assistance to sociology. Since psychology is a component of sociology,
sociology cannot fully and accurately comprehend itself without the assistance of
psychology. Numerous psychiatrists, including Freud, MacDougal, and others, have
greatly enriched sociology.
Overall, the relationship between sociology and psychology is complex and dynamic,
with each field offering valuable insights into the study of human behavior and society.
As such, interdisciplinary collaboration and integration of theories and methods from both
fields can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of human behavior and
society. In summary, sociology and psychology are distinct yet interrelated disciplines
that contribute to our understanding of human behavior (Schrujjer & Curseu, 2014). Both
fields seek to understand why people behave the way they do and how their behavior is
influenced by various factors, such as social norms, culture, personality, and cognition.

3. Political Science: Political Science is the study of political institutions, processes, and
behavior. Sociology and political science share common ground in their examination of
power, politics, and social structures. While political science focuses on the formal
structures of governance and political systems, sociology studies the social factors that
shape political behavior and institutions, such as social class, race, gender, and social
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movements. Both disciplines also investigate issues related to social inequality, social
justice, and the distribution of resources and power in society. Guzzini (2016) concluded
that political science is the rigorous study of politics and the executive branch of
government. The study of political science gives one the skills necessary to persuade the
authorities to conform with broad developmental goals and to direct the course that the
government is taking. Political science is the area of the social sciences that focuses on
the operations of the global political economy. As a result, it has a symbiotic relationship
with the other social sciences that investigate the other facets of the global political
economy, it should be noted.
The social customs, traditions, and beliefs serve as the foundation for how the state
formulates its laws and regulations. The study of political science will be lacking without
a sociological foundation. The sociologists' studies and research techniques were mainly
advantageous to political scientists. Some people view politics as a subfield of sociology.
Sociology studies the state because it is regarded as a social entity.

Conclusion

In summary, sociology shares a strong relationship with anthropology, psychology, and

political science due to their overlapping subject matters, theoretical perspectives, and
research methods. Together, these social sciences provide a multidisciplinary approach to
understanding human societies, cultures, behaviors, and institutions, and how they
interconnect and shape one another. The interdisciplinary nature of these relationships
enriches the study of social phenomena and offers valuable insights into the complexities of
human societies. So, the study of sociology in conjunction with these other social sciences
can provide a comprehensive and holistic understanding of human societies and their
intricacies. Overall, the relationship between sociology and these social sciences is symbiotic,
mutually informing and enhancing our understanding of human societies and their dynamics.
As such, the relationships between sociology and these other social sciences are integral to
the advancement of social knowledge and understanding of the human experience in society.
In conclusion, sociology is an interdisciplinary field that draws on various social sciences to
understand human behavior and society. Its relationship with anthropology, psychology, and
political science highlights the importance of collaboration and exchange of ideas between
different disciplines to gain a more comprehensive understanding of complex social
phenomena. By studying human behavior from different perspectives, we can develop a more

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nuanced understanding of social structures and processes and better address social problems
and challenges.

References

What is Sociology? | Department of Sociology. (2018).

https://sociology.unc.edu/undergraduate-program/sociology-major/what-is-sociology/

Hess, D.J. and Frickel, S. (2014), "Introduction: Fields of Knowledge and Theory Traditions

in the Sociology of Science", Fields of Knowledge: Science, Politics and Publics in the
Neoliberal Age (Political Power and Social Theory, Vol. 27), Emerald Group Publishing
Limited, Bingley, pp. 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0198-871920140000027001

Bhambra, G.K. (2013), "The Possibilities of, and for, Global Sociology: A Postcolonial
Perspective", Go, J. (Ed.) Postcolonial Sociology (Political Power and Social Theory, Vol.
24), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 295-
314. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0198-8719(2013)0000024017

Stokes, P.A. (2007), "From management science to sociology: Cybernetics, finalization and

the possibility of a social science", Kybernetes, Vol. 36 No. 3/4, pp. 420-
436. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920710747048

Fabinyi, M., Evans, L., & Foale, S. J. (2014). Social-ecological systems, social diversity, and
power: insights from anthropology and political ecology. Ecology and Society, 19(4).
http://www.jstor.org/stable/26269693

G.L. Schruijer, S. and L. Curseu, P. (2014), "Looking at the gap between social psychological
and psychodynamic perspectives on group dynamics historically", Journal of Organizational
Change Management, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 232-245. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-08-2012-
0121

Guzzini, S. (2016). International political sociology, or: The social ontology and power
politics of process. Danish Institute for International Studies.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep13383

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