Relationship of Sociology with other Social Science

 

1.Political Science

Political science deals with the distribution of power and the exercise of power, democracy, voting, etc. Both political science and sociology explain the interdependency between man and society. Sociology makes theory and political science implements. Hence, both subjects are complementary to each other. political science deals with the problems of city or state in which men live; sociology focuses on the social lives and emotions related to the masses. Both are concerned with the study of the society but the opinions being subjectively different.

2.Anthropology

Sociology and Anthropology lie so close together that they often appear as two names for the same field of enquiry. Anthropology studies of man and his culture as they developed in times long past whereas sociology studies the same phenomena as they exist at present. Sociology depends very much on the material supplied by Anthropology. In fact the historical part of Sociology is identical with Cultural Anthropology. Anthropology has contributed substantially to the study of Sociology. Anthropology studies the simple and state primitive societies whereas sociology studies the dynamic and complex present societies. Anthropology uses observation as study method whereas sociology uses survey as study method. Sociology is concerned with planning whereas anthropology is not concerned with planning.

3.Economics

There is an intimate relationship between sociology and economics. Economics deals with the production of goods and services and how they are distributed to people. Similarly, sociology also studies how the goods are reachable to all members of the society. Sociology states that every social being has some economic need whereas these needs are evaluated and distributed by economics.  In order to solve economic problems of unemployment, poverty, business cycle or inflation an economist has to take into consideration the social phenomena existing at the particular time. Theories like liberalism, communism, socialism, capitalism, etc touch the spectrum of economics and sociology. All economic phenomena like demand, supply, consumption, production, etc. are determined by social needs.

Economics is older than sociology. Economics uses methods like inductive and deductive whereas sociology uses survey method. Economics is related only with the economic activities of men whereas sociology is related with all social relationship.

4.Geography

Geography is the study of physical characteristics of earth. It has been recognized that geography has impact on the human society. It is clear that there is a corresponding relationship between physical characteristics and mode of living of human. For eg: There is a huge difference between the way of living of the people in desert and mountainous region.

5.Sociology and Social Psychology

Social Psychology deals with mental processes of man considered as a social being. It studies particularly the influence of group life on the mental development of individual, the effect of the individual mind on the group, and the development of the mental life of the groups within themselves and in their relations with one’ another. On the other hand, sociology studies the various kinds of groups which compose the society. Social Psychology depends on sociology to understand properly human nature and behaviour since sociology provides the necessary material regarding the structure, organisation and culture of societies to which individuals belong. Sociology depends upon social psychology to understand the social phenomena.