What is sociology?

Sociology1, in simplest terms, implies a scientific study of society. The word ‘sociology’ derives
its origin from two words: the Latin word socius (society) and the Greek word logos (study of or
science of). The name of our discipline is thus an ‘illegitimate’ offspring of two languages. The
etymological meaning of ‘sociology’ is ‘the science of society,’ just as geology (geos, earth) is
‘the science of earth’, biology (bios, life) is ‘the science of life’ and anthropology (anthropos,
man) is ‘the science of man’.
1: Brij MOHAN, Introduction to Sociology – Concepts and Theories, P3

Also defined as a systematic and scientific study of human behavior, social groups,
and society. Sociologists examine structural and institutional forces that shape our
everyday lives, behaviors, and social values and look at how we help create those
social structure and institutions. Sociology is an academic discipline, but this does
not mean that it is simply “a thing to be studied. . . . Sociology is, first of all, a
thing lived”2 (Lemert, 2012). Perhaps sociologist Peter Berger said it best when he
wrote, “Sociology is not a practice but an attempt to understand.”3 This requires
that sociologists look at everyday events a little differently from the way most
people do.
2: William E. THOMPSON, Joseph V. HICKEY, Mica L. THOMPSON, Society in Focus – An Introduction to
Sociology, Ninth Edition, P3

3: William E. THOMPSON, Joseph V. HICKEY, Mica L. THOMPSON, Society in Focus – An Introduction to

Sociology, Ninth Edition, P3

Sociological imagination
The American sociologist C. Wright Mills (1955) defines sociological imagination as a “vivid
awareness of the relationship between personal experience and the wider society.”1 Sociological
imagination is not a theory but an outlook of society that tries to steer us away from thinking
routinely about our everyday lives so that we can look at our lives in fresh ways.
C. Wright Mills recognizes that the individual and society are intricately linked and that we
cannot fully understand one without the other. When exploring the link between the individual
and society, Mills underlines the difference between the way we understand what he calls
“personal troubles” and “public issues.” Personal troubles result from individual challenges while
public issues are caused by larger social factors.
It reminds us that we, as individuals, are to some extent products of the particular society and
historical period in which we live but also acknowledges that we are history makers, who help
produce and change society by our actions.
1 : Sara Cumming, Sociology Unlocked, P 37
Sociology and social science
Sciences are commonly divided into natural and social sciences. Natural science is the study of the
physical features of nature and the ways in which they interact and change. Biology, chemistry, geology,
and physics are all natural sciences. Social science is the study of the social features of humans and the
ways in which they interact and change. The social sciences include sociology, anthropology, economics,
history, psychology, and political science. These social science disciplines have a common focus on the
social behavior of people, yet each has a particular orientation. Anthropologists usually study past
cultures and preindustrial societies that continue today, as well as the origins of humans. Economists
explore the ways in which people produce and exchange goods and services, along with money and
other resources. Historians are concerned with the peoples and events of the past and their significance
for us today. Psychologists investigate personality and individual behavior. Sociologist study the
influence that society has on people’s attitudes and behavior and the ways in which people interact and
shape society. Because humans are social animals, sociologists examine our social relationships
scientifically.