Sociology is the study of human society, including social change, social groups and social life. It explores how social groups are structured and how they function, and how social factors can influence human behavior. A sociologist might study anything from organized crime to religious traditions to class division, according to the American Sociological Association (ASA).^{(See disclaimer 1)} 

Have you ever wondered about the factors that contribute to recidivism? Are you curious about the rise of social systems, such as the foster care system in the U.S.? If you’re a high school student who is thinking about what to major in at college and you’re curious about societal issues and structures, you may want to consider majoring in sociology.

What is sociology? Take a closer look at the sociology definition and explore various theoretical perspectives that provide a foundation for sociological thought.

A Brief History of Sociology

Sociology emerged as a distinct field of study during the 19th century, influenced by widespread social changes associated with industrialization, urbanization and political transformation.^{(See disclaimer 2)} Early thinkers helped establish different approaches to studying society. Auguste Comte helped introduce the term “sociology,” while Karl Marx examined class conflict and social change. Émile Durkheim contributed to establishing sociology as a formal academic discipline and Max Weber studied the relationships among culture, economics and social action.^{(See disclaimer 2)} Their work helped establish concepts and approaches that continue to influence the study of sociology today. 

The purpose of sociology is to better understand highly complex social patterns, structures and problems. Different sociologists study different phenomena, and so they will have varying goals. The goal of one might be to understand the patterns of social interactions in one culture or across different cultures, for example, while another sociologist might focus on studying how organizations influence humans and their behavior.

Sociological research can be applied in practical settings. For instance, the data uncovered by a sociologist’s research may shed light on public policy, perhaps influencing its adjustment to better serve community welfare.

Sociology is a broad field that seeks to understand and analyze human society, humans’ social relationships, systems and institutions. What is sociology the study of, specifically? A sociologist can study major and widespread societal issues, such as the following:

• Crime
• Drug abuse
• Religion
• Social stratification
• Cultural beliefs and traditions
• Economic systems
• Public health institutions
• Education

Sociologists can also study issues on a personal level, such as family conflict, deviant behavior, romantic love and personal identity. On a global level, sociologists study war, peace, population growth and immigration. As you can see, the field is tremendously broad and holds virtually limitless potential for focusing on a particular area of interest.

Yes, sociologists are social scientists. Like other scientists, they rely on careful research design, information gathering, observation, hypothesis formation and analysis. For example, they can evaluate historical documents, observe group behavior, conduct lab experiments and interview group participants.

Theoretical perspectives in sociology are frameworks that explain how society works and why people behave as they do. The three major perspectives are functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism.

These scientific processes enable sociologists to develop theoretical perspectives in sociology. These theories and concepts are a way to try to understand human society or some aspect of it.

Theoretical perspectives in sociology are frameworks that explain how society works and why people behave as they do. The three major perspectives are functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level theory that explains how people create shared meaning through everyday interactions, language and symbols. The interactionist perspective is a micro-sociological theory. Also known as symbolic interaction theory, the interactionist perspective posits that humans derive meaning from the world around us as a social construct that is the result of daily social interaction.

This sociological theory explores how people use and interpret symbols as methods of interpersonal communication. It also examines how people develop self-identities, both for themselves and to show to the outside world. In addition, this theory encompasses how people create and maintain their own deeply held truths and visions of reality.

The interactionist perspective has roots in the work of Max Weber, one of the founders of sociology, according to ThoughtCo.^{(See disclaimer 3)} Weber’s theory was that humans will act based on how they interpret the world around them, indicating that action is based on and is secondary to meaning itself. 

Functionalist Perspective (Functionalism)

The functionalist perspective, also known as functionalism, is a macro-sociological theory. It explores the interconnected nature of the relationships between societal systems and structures. The functionalist perspective most closely associated with sociologist Emile Durkheim, according to SimplyPsychology.^{(See disclaimer 4)} He reflected on the mechanisms through which society remains stable and how social order is perpetuated. 

The functionalist perspective argues that the structures and systems in society add up to more than the sum of their parts. Much like a living creature, which needs both respiratory and circulatory systems to live, society needs each of its structural components to perpetuate itself. If you remove one component, such as education or public health, for example, then the larger society can no longer function as it once did.

This sociological theory acknowledges that society can evolve over time. If a new need arises, then a new system or structure can be formed to meet that need. For example, if a society recognizes that it is having trouble meeting its need for a stable workforce, then it may institute universal childcare benefits so that the parents in its population will be able to work.

Similarly, if a particular need no longer exists, then functionalism holds that the system or structure that traditionally meets that need will wither away. In some cases, a structure may diminish, but not disappear entirely. Consider how a country may ramp up its military capacity during wartime, and then reduce — but not eliminate — its military following the resolution of the conflict.

Conflict Theory Perspective

Conflict theory is a macro-level perspective that views society as shaped by competition between groups for limited power and resources. The conflict perspective, also known as conflict theory, has roots in the work of Karl Marx, who studied class conflict between the bourgeoisie (people of means and the affluent) and the proletariat (the working class and the poor). According to Investopedia, Marx argued that class-based conflict was inevitable because these two groups had interests that were not aligned and because resource distribution was uneven.^{(See disclaimer 5 )}

From a broader perspective, conflict theory examines the disparate groups of people within a society, all of which have their own interests. From Marx’s view, revolution was an inevitable consequence of unequal power and resources.

It’s important to note that conflict perspective does not necessarily need to be limited to theories of class and social stratification. Rather, it can be applied to any disparate groups of people. For example, a sociologist might study gender, political, racial or religious groups through the lens of conflict theory.

A specific example of an issue that might be examined through this lens could include the differences in income between male and female employees performing the same job and with the same qualifications.

Another issue that could be examined is whether students from affluent families may be more likely to score well on exams because their families have opportunities that arise from financial resources, whereas students from working class families may fare more poorly in the education system.

There is a broad range of core concepts in the sociology field. Some of them include:

• Agency: An individual’s capacity to make their own decisions and take actions based on their choices.
• Colonialism: The practice of one population or nation establishing control over another, often influencing its political, economic and social systems.
• Culture: The shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors and practices of a group or society.
• Deviance: Behaviors, beliefs or actions that differ from the established norms or expectations of a particular group or society.
• Norms: Shared expectations or rules that help guide behavior within a group or society.
• Roles and status: A status refers to a person’s social position within a group or society, while a role describes the behaviors and expectations associated with that position.
• Social change: The ways societies and their institutions, behaviors or relationships change over time, whether gradually or in response to significant events.
• Social institutions: Established systems and structures that help meet societal needs, including family, education, government, religion and the economy.
• Socialization: The process through which individuals learn the values, norms, behaviors and expectations of their society or social groups.
• Social stratification: The organization of people into social categories or levels based on factors such as wealth, income, education, occupation or social status.
• Social structure: The organized patterns of relationships, groups, institutions and social arrangements that help shape how a society functions.
• Sociological imagination: The ability to consider how an individual’s personal experiences may connect to broader social, historical and cultural conditions.

Because sociology is the study of human society, social interactions and structures, its theories could be applied to a wide range of human activities. For example, choosing what to wear seems like an entirely personal decision, and yet it can be influenced by the day of the week (business or casual) and the people with whom you expect to interact that day.

If you’re meeting your friends for coffee, for example, informal clothing might be expected, whereas meeting your partner’s family for the first time might call for somewhat more formal wear.

Another example of sociological perspectives in daily life concerns differences in habits across socioeconomic classes. Someone of means might not spend much time reflecting on each purchase decision, whereas someone who struggles to get by might spend a great deal of time comparison shopping to find the best deal on an item.

Sociology majors study the theories, research methods and data analysis skills used to examine social structures, inequality and human behavior.

As a college student, some of the topics you may study as a sociology major could include:

• The concepts, theories and methods that sociologists use to study social structures and how they influence human behaviors.
• Societal and personal issues in modern life, including crime, drug abuse, poverty and family relations.
• The development of roles, norms, group processes, attitudes, stereotypes, prejudices and social awareness within societal groups.
• Classical and contemporary theoretical perspectives that provide the foundation for the analysis of social patterns and influences.
• Social stratification and inequality within theoretical, historical and conceptual frameworks.

Sociology can shed light on why people behave the way they do and how society changes over time. It can examine key social institutions and determine whether they are beneficial or harmful to daily life.

The study of sociology can also explore the causes of social problems, such as poverty, crime, discrimination and harassment. Understanding the causes may help lead to solutions by informing public policy and encouraging the empowerment of marginalized groups.

If these sociology topics spark your interest, then you may want to become a sociology major at GCU. The Bachelor of Science in Sociology degree and the Master of Science in Sociology with an Emphasis in Education program teach key sociological theories and concepts. Start your journey to studying human social life and its effects.