What is the purpose of sociology?

George Alvarez 24-10-2023
George Alvarez

You know what is the purpose of sociology and the role it plays today Both sociology and its foundations are aspects that can surprise us when we see that it is a young science.

Some bases of theory for this discipline emerged from the ideas of the Enlightenment, a cultural and intellectual movement between the mid-18th and early 19th centuries.

In the years following this period, a new generation of scholars continued to develop thoughts and theories that would later lead to what we know today as sociology. Among them is Auguste Comte, a French philosopher whom history values as the father of sociology.

What is sociology?

Sociology is within the social sciences and aims to scientifically analyze human society and populations by analyzing how citizens and communities are impacted by political, historical, cultural, economic, and even artistic phenomena.

Therefore, this tells us that sociology is based on the following criterion: the behavior of the masses is related to the contexts and facts they have lived through. This is why we see how in certain regions and countries there are patterns of thought and behavior that are repeated in a large part of the citizens. In other words, it is because their families and they have been impacted by the same historical and social elements.

In Mexico, for example, there are common traits in communities such as pride of country, interest in cultural activity, and religious beliefs. In turn, sociology has developed a large number of concepts that help to understand how a society is organized and the behaviors that develop in them, such as:

Social Stratification

We can say that a society that has its structure formed according to a predefined category criterion. It is usually related to purchasing power, status, social, political and economic power.

Each stratum brings together families and individuals with a similar standard of living and with the same capacity to influence society. Thus, in general, social stratification is used to reflect inequality in the distribution of material or symbolic goods.

Social Class

The sociological concept of social class, applied in multiple fields and analyses, refers to a group of people linked by common characteristics in terms of purchasing or economic power.

Generally speaking, the conditions that define which group an individual is in have to do with family circle and inheritance.

In this way, sociology, as branches, economics, and education have shown us over the years that children from less favored classes have a great chance of being part of them when they grow up.

Meanwhile, the children of families in the more "accommodating" groups remain integrated into them as adults in the vast majority of cases.

Social Mobility

Social mobility is a set of movements of families and individuals within a given socioeconomic system.

For example, social mobility occurs when a person moves from a disadvantaged class to a segment of the population with an average standard of living.

Social deviation

Sociology uses this concept of social deviance to identify behaviors and actions done by people that are not in line with what society usually expects of them.

Therefore, such behaviors do not have to be criminalized, but rather be outside the moral, ethical, and cultural standards of a community.

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In fact, another concept of this discipline is the social role, which refers to the set of behaviors that society gives to each individual based on his or her status and area of activity.

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Why is sociology so important in our society?

If you have read this far, you should already have at least a basic idea of the importance of sociology for populations and nations, so pay attention to these specific and concrete reasons below. They show why science is so important to our society.

Improve social relationships

Sociology is a scientific and sustainable way to reduce prejudice and generate empathy. In this way, it allows us to understand people's behaviors and where they come from. This helps us to understand the difference between communities in a friendly and thoughtful way.

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In addition, it generally explains what aspects of ethics and morals society expects from each of its members. In this way it identifies what should proceed and what principles should be followed to live in harmony.

Lets you understand the present

Sociology is a discipline that gives context to all aspects related to society, including the present.

In other words, this science allows us to understand who we are and why a certain problem is persistent in our community.

Therefore, to understand the present, sociology studies the past and the different processes that a certain gentile, ethnic or social group has gone through.

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In this way, it also analyzes all those economic, political, social, and artistic factors that still have an impact and consequently define its behavior and thought patterns.

Provides knowledge about the company

In general, sociology is a source of knowledge for society. This means that it enables each of us to better understand ourselves and the people around us.

In turn, the knowledge provided through sociological studies is of great interest to different fields and aspects, such as:

  • public policies;
  • educational programs;
  • mental health promotion programs;
  • various mechanisms of social intervention.

This being so, it is clear that the learning generated from sociological study also allows sociology itself to become more precise and broader.

How to become an expert in sociology?

There is no doubt about the importance of sociology in the world and how exciting this science can be as a field of specialization and profession. Therefore, to become a specialist in sociology it is necessary to get involved with a high-level academic program related to this field.

First of all, to study the Master's in Sociology you need to have a bachelor's level academic background, which in turn is part of or related to the social sciences. As for the qualities and skills that are part of the entry profile of this master's degree, some of them are:

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  • ability to work in teams;
  • ability to collect and organize information;
  • good oral and written communication;
  • vocation of service;
  • orientation to achievement;
  • leadership ability.

Final considerations

The importance of sociology for societies is largely due to the fact that this science has been able to adapt to the new demands of communities and the changes that have occurred in the dynamics of people's lives.

This is because its experts are frequently seeking new theories, concepts, and processes that will generate greater reach and meet societies' needs.

As we have seen in this article, the goal of sociology That is why we invite you to enroll in our online clinical psychoanalysis course to improve your knowledge.

George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.