SOCIOLOGY

OPTIONAL
PAPER 1: UNIT-1 (Lecture-3) : SOCIOLOGY- THE
DISCIPLINE- Comparison with Other Social
Sciences
UNIT 1: SOCIOLOGY- THE DISCIPLINE
UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
➢ Delimit the scope of Sociology in relation to other social sciences. (2022, 10 Marks, 150
Words)

➢ From the viewpoint of multi-disciplinarity, how do you relate sociology to other social
sciences. (2021, 20 Marks, 250 Words)

➢ Write short note: Compare and contrast Sociology with Anthropology. (2013, 10 marks,
150 words)
1. Comparison of Sociology with other Social sciences
2. WHAT Is Political Science?
• Sociology: Kingsley Davis says that “ sociology is general science of society”

• Political Science: Paul Janet writes “Political Science is concerned with the foundations
of the state and principles of government.”

• Examples:

• Subdiscipline: Political Sociology

2.1. Key Thinkers: Combined Political Science and Sociology
2.2. Mutual Relationship between Political Science and Sociology
2.3. Differences between Political science and Sociology
2.4. Political Sociology
➢ Definition: It is an outcome of intersection between sociology and
political science which studies various political institutions,
associations, interest groups, power and dynamics in society and its
Impact on Society and its people.

➢ Example: Max Weber Study

➢ Lipset and Bendix: Political sociology is concerned with voting

behavior of communities and with economic power and political
decision making
2.5. Political Sociology: More Info
3. WHAT Is Economics?
➢ What?:

➢ Formal Definition: Adam Smith regarded economics as a

science of wealth which studies the process of
production, consumption and accumulation of wealth.

➢ Subdiscipline: Economic Sociology

➢ Example:
3.1. Key Thinkers: Combined Sociology and Economics

Cost of Externalities

Economic behavior and Emotional factors

Study of man and deals with activities in social setup

3.2. Mutual relationship between Sociology and Economy
3.3. Differences between Sociology and Economics
3.4. Economic Sociology

➢ Definition: Economic sociology is the application of sociological methods to

understand the production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of goods and
services.

➢ Karl Marx:

➢ Examples: Cow Dung Economy, Kula Exchange among pacific islanders,

potlach ceremony of Kwakiutl Indians (North America)
4. Psychology
➢ What?:

Formal Definition: According to Baron, psychology is the science of behavior and cognitive
processes. Psychology emphasizes on the process that occurs inside the individual’s mind such as
perception, cognition, emotion, and the consequence of these processes on the social environment.

➢ Subject Matter:

➢ Relation with Sociology: Gerth and Mills say social psychology is interplay between individual
character and social character and it can be approached either from the side of sociology or
from the side of biology. They use the concept of “role” as a meeting point of individual
organism and social structure.
4.1.Thinkers Associated

• Max Weber:

• Alfred Schutz:

• G H Mead:
4.2. Mutual Relationship between Sociology and Psychology
4.3. Differences between Sociology and Psychology
4.4. Social - Psychology
• What?

➢ Formal Definition:. Baron and Byrne (2007) define social psychology as the scientific field that seeks to
understand the nature and causes of individual behavior in social situations.

➢ Subject Matter:

➢ Utility in Present Society:

5. Ethics
➢ What:

Formal Definition: Karen L. Rich defines ethics as a systematic approach to

understanding, analyzing, and distinguishing matters of right and wrong,
good and bad, and admirable and deplorable as they relate to the well-being of and
the relationships among sentient beings.

➢ Subject Matter:

➢ Example:
5.1. Thinkers View
5.2. Similarities between Ethics and Sociology

• Social Conditions:

• Intimate Connect:

• Similar Relation:
5.3. Difference between Sociology and Ethics

➢ Scope:

➢ Values:

➢ Specialization:

➢ Focus:

➢ Historical Data
OVERALL SYNOPSIS
➢ Political Science: Definition, thinkers, Mutual Relationship, Differences,
Political Sociology.

➢ Economics: Definition, Thinkers, Mutual Relationship, Differences,

Economic Sociology.

➢ Psychology: Definition, Mutual Relationship, Differences, Social-

Psychology.

➢ Ethics: Definition, Thinkers, Similarities, Differences.

Thank You