Why do we study sociology?

Answer 1

Sociology is the study of the social part of us, the pattern of interaction with other people which is necessary to our very existence. Sociology has been described as 'the scientific study of human group behavior' and 'the application of scientific methods of inquiry to the puzzles of social life.' We all participate in any number of social groups, many of which overlap. Sociologists study how and why these groups interact with each other and how the interactions affect their members. Such analyses not only yield a clearer understanding of society and its components, but also allow sociologists to see both the causes and the possible remedies for our social problems. Why study sociology? Sociology is one of the liberal arts (and I would argue the most inherently interesting). Sociology prepares one for a lifetime of change, developing one's appreciation of diversity, love of learning, writing and study skills, as well as a knowledge base about human behavior, social organization, and culture. If you are the type who doesn't necessarily follow the crowd (but are fascinated by their behavior), the type who is truly interested in what is going on in the world, then the world of sociology and the subjects found therein should interest if not fascinate you. Secondly and most seriously, the field helps us look more objectively at the society in which we live. It directs attention to how the parts of society fit together as well as the causes and consequences of social change. In modern industrial-bureaucratic societies we are faced with an increasingly complex and rapidly changing social milieu. If not a crisis, some conditions identified and noted by sociologists are cause for concern. Many of these topics will be addressed in future postings and questions. A study of sociology provides the conceptual tools and methodologys for understanding the contemporary scene. By focusing on the external constraints to social action it helps us better understand ourselves and the motivations of others around us. While we are all creatures of our society, we are also all co-creators--sociology provides the tools so that we can take a more active role in that creation, a role that is essential if we hope to achieve a more just world and egalitarian society.

HERE ARE SOME CLASSICAL ANSWERS to the question:

(From Invitation to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective Peter L. Berger Anchor Books 1963, pp. 1-24 -- gender modified)

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The sociologist . . . is someone concerned with understanding society in a disciplined way.

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S/he will naturally be interested in the events that engage people's ultimate beliefs, their moments of tragedy and grandeur and ecstasy. But s/he will also be fascinated by the commonplace, the everyday.

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What interests us is the curiousity that grips any sociologist in front of a closed door behind which there are human voices. If s/he is a good sociologist, s/he will want to open that door, to understand those voices. Behind each closed door s/he will anticipate some new facet of human life not yetperceived and understood.

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The fascination of sociology lies in the fact that its perspective makes us see in a new light the very world in which we have lived all our lives.

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[T]here is a deceptive simplicity and obviousness about some sociological investigations. One reads them, nods at the familiar scene, remarks that one has heard all this beforeand don't people have better things to do than to waste their time on truisms--until one is suddenly brought up against an insight that radically questions everything one had previously assumed about this familiar scene. This is the point at which one begins to sense the excitement of sociology.

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It can be said that the first wisdom of sociology is this--things are not what they seem. This too is a deceptively simple statement. It ceases to be simple after a while. Social reality turns out to have many layers of meaning.

The discovery of each new layer changes the perception of the whole.

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People who like to avoid shocking discoveries, who prefer to believe that society is just what they were taught in Sunday School, who like the safety of the rules and the maxims of what Alfred Schuetz has called the "world-taken-for-granted," should stay away from sociology.

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People who feel no temptation before closed doors, who have no curiousity about human beings, who are content to admire scenery without wondering about the people who live in those houses on the other side of that river, should probably stay away from sociology. They will find it unpleasant or, at any rate, unrewarding.

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People who are interested in human beings only if they can change, convert or reform them should also be warned, for they will find sociology much less useful than they hoped. And people whose interest is mainly in their own conceptual constructions will do just as well to turn to the study of little white mice.

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Sociology will be satisfying, in the long run, only to those who can think of nothing more entrancing than to watch people and understand things human.

-Carve Cut Edit

Answer 2

We study sociology to understand social structures, institutions, and patterns of behavior in society. It helps us make sense of the world around us, identify social issues, and work towards creating a more just and equitable society. Sociology also provides insights into how individuals are shaped by their interactions with others and society as a whole.

Answer 3

we need to study sociology because it studies trends and phenomena that influence social behaviors of individuals.

Answer 4

It is important to study how people act and behave against other people. We may do this to investigate how people are acting to people differently to other people than say 20 years ago.

Answer 5

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