Sociology

The most basic sociological premise is that humans are social beings, shaped in many ways by the groups to which we belong. Whether they be families, athletic teams, clubs (such as sororities and fraternities), religious groups, socioeconomic classes, complex bureaucratic organizations, or nations, much of human life is guided by group norms. Much of human life is also consumed with conflicts between groups, each of which tries to defend its own self interests. As a discipline, Sociology involves the description and explanation of social structures and processes. These range from two-person interactions to relations between large social institutions, such as politics and the economy, to relations between nations. Sociology also ranges across time and serves as a useful complement to history. Sociology increases our understanding of ourselves and our society by providing us with concepts that describe and explain our social creations and how they influence us. We learn who we are and why, and how we are similar to and different from people with different social arrangements.