THE AUXILIARY BRANCHES AND DISCIPLINES OF SOCIOLOGY - CULTURE VOCABULARY

The branches and disciplines / auxiliary sciences of sociology are born from the wide field of study that this science has. Sociology is the science that studies the development, organization, functioning and classification of human societies, being considered the social science par excellence.

This science examines and explains issues such as crime and law, poverty and wealth, prejudice, education, business enterprises, the urban community, and social movements. While at the global level, sociology studies phenomena such as population growth, migration, war, peace and economic development.

To this end, a professional sociologist uses different research methods: observation, large-scale surveys, interpretation of historical documents, analysis of census data or audiovisual content, interviews, focus groups and even laboratory experiments.

A sociologist thinks critically about human social life, knows how to ask the crucial questions in research, designs good social research projects, collects and carefully analyzes empirical data. Ultimately, it helps others understand the way the social world works and how it can be changed for the better.

This breadth has a complexity that implies that sociology must rely on other social sciences that study a particular aspect of society.

What are the branches of sociology?

There is no definitive consensus on this point. Each author makes a different branch.

For Émile Durkheim, there must be three divisions:

1- Social morphology: referred to the geographical environments, the population density and other data that could influence the social aspects.

2- Social physiology: dealing with dynamic processes such as religion, morality, law, economic and political aspects.

3- General sociology: trying to discover the general social laws that can be derived from specialized social processes.

Sorokin, for his part, speaks of two branches:

1- General sociology: studies the properties common to all social and cultural phenomena in their structural aspects (types of groups and institutions and their interrelationships) and dynamics (social processes such as social contact, interaction, socialization, etc.).

2- Special sociologies: study in depth a specific sociocultural phenomenon such as population sociology, rural sociology, sociology of law, sociology of religion, sociology of knowledge, etc. And then add cosmo-sociology and bio-sociology.

While Ginsberg considers that sociology branches out from the problems it addresses:

1- Social morphology: investigates the social structure. Describe and classify the main types of social groups and institutions.

2- Social control: includes the study of law, morals, religion, conventions and fashions.

3- Social processes: this category includes the modes of interaction between individuals or groups.

4- Social pathology: refers to the study of social disorders and disturbances.

Émile Durkheim, Pitirim Sorokin and Morris Ginesberg

With the passing of time and the development of the sciences, multiple branches of study have emerged within Sociology. Some of them:

The Sociology of Religion
The Sociology of Education
Political sociology
The sociology of communication
The Sociology of Law
Social psychology
Social psychiatry
Historical sociology
Sociology of knowledge
Criminology
Human ecology
Social organization
Social change
Rural sociology
Urban sociology
Demographic sociology
Economic sociology
Sociology of culture

Disciplines / auxiliary sciences of Sociology

Once the breadth of the field of study of sociology is established, it is logical to think that it is a science in close relationship with all the other social sciences. Here is a short list that reflects such interaction:

Sociology and Politics

While sociology is a science that is concerned with studying social groups and institutions, politics studies power, political processes and systems, types of government and international relations.

While the State frames its rules, regulations and laws on the basis of customs, traditions and social values, so it requires a sociological background to complement its objective. They also have common subjects of study: war, propaganda, authority, communal disturbances, and law.

Sociology and History

History records the life of societies in a systematic and chronological order, also investigating the possible causes of past events, regardless of their nature and their impact on the present conditions of societies. Thus, history is a kind of "storehouse of knowledge" for sociology.

Sociology, on the other hand, enriches the method of study of historians who, for example, today organize their research by caste, class and family, or consider the social causes of the events they study.

Sociology and Economics

Economic activities are, ultimately, social activities. The economy studies the activities of man in relation to the production, consumption, distribution and exchange of goods and services; that is, of the material well-being of the person, and this well-being is a part of social well-being.

In fact, some economists view economic change as one aspect of social change, and that every social problem has an economic cause. Economic factors play an important role in our social life, which is why sociologists are concerned with economic institutions.

Sociology and Psychology

Psychology is a science that studies the behavior, attitudes, emotions, perception, learning process and values of individuals, while for sociology, human behavior as a group is a matter of interest.

There are scholars who claim that all social life could ultimately be reduced to psychological forces. While the human mind and personality is influenced by the social environment, culture, customs and traditions that surround it.

Sociology and Anthropology

Anthropology, known as the twin of sociology, studies man, his works and his behavior, as well as his biological and cultural development. Being the object of study practically the same, the relationship becomes obvious.

Anthropology provides knowledge about ancient societies that helps the comprehensive understanding of current society that sociology seeks.

References

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Sciences. Houghton Mifflin (2002). The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Recovered from: dictionary.com.
Mary Smith (2016). What are the Main Branches of Sociology. Recovered from: education.onehowto.com.
Puja Mondal (nd). The Relationship of Sociology with Other Social Sciences. Recovered from: yourarticlelibrary.com.
Sociology Guide (2017). Branches of Sociology. Recovered from: sociologyguide.com.
Sociology Degree (2016). Types of Sociology. sociologydegree101.com.
THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL. Department of Sociology. Recovered from: sociology.unc.edu.

THE AUXILIARY BRANCHES AND DISCIPLINES OF SOCIOLOGY - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025