In its most basic form, sociology is the study of society. This entails an in-depth approach to the way that individuals and groups and societies interact with each other. Various other disciplines are components of sociology, including psychology, history, as well as economics.
Creation
Sociology as a phrase and a concept was created in the 1830s by a French philosopher of science named Auguste Comte. Comte wanted to find a new approach to the way society was viewed and he came up with the concept of taking the various disciplines deling with human behavior and society and merging them into one single discipline for study — which became sociology.
Uses of Sociology
One of the ways sociology is used is studying the interaction between individuals and social networks. In many cases, the way a person communicates online is different from the way that individual communicates in a face-to-face situation. Sociology can help to understand why there is a difference between an online communication and a face-to-face encounter.
Another way sociology is used can be seen in dealing with individuals who have committed crimes. Using data gathered by sociologists is how many rehabilitation programs are developed, leading to dramatic shifts in the recidivism rate.
Social Institutions
Sociology also entails delving into social institutions. Social institutions are those sub-groups within a society that help develop behavior within the society. One example of a social institution is the media. Depending upon the technique being used to present a set of facts, the media can cause opinions to be formed by following what is desired by the media social institution.
Public Relations
Since sociology is the study of a society and how individuals exist within the society, it’s only natural that sociology is an integral part of public relations. For an individual or an organization to have the strongest impact upon the public, it’s important to have a solid understanding of sociology and can tailor a message the best way possible to have it accepted by the public.
Advertising
An article in Entrepreneur showed how sociology can be used effectively when it came to advertising. Sociologists understand the way that individuals are hardwired and that knowledge can be used to influence them in several ways. The key to a solid advertising campaign is being able to get the potential clients to take the action necessary to complete the sale. Sociologists can take their knowledge of human nature and society and create a course of action that will achieve the desired result. This is not to imply that sociology is restricted to potentially turning a profit for a large corporation, however. The same skills can be applied to an advertising campaign designed to increase awareness of climate change.
Related Resource: 15 Best Affordable Sociology Degree Programs
Sociology is an important aspect in a great number of disciplines and someone who obtains a degree in sociology has dozens of pathways open when it comes to the future.
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