The Discipline of Sociology
What is Sociology?
The 6 billion people on earth are members of a single biological species: Homo sapiens. But there are striking differences among the world’s people. The Chinese wear white at funerals while people in the United States prefer black. People in England and the United States say a watch “runs” while the Spanish say it “walks” and the Germans say it “functions.” Australians turn on lights by flipping switches “down.” North Americans do the same by flipping them “up”; the Australians, British and Japanese all drive on the left side of the road, while people in the United States drive on the right. Most people in the United States kiss in public, the Chinese kiss only in private; the French kiss publicly twice (once on each cheek), while the Belgians kiss three times (starting on either cheek); the New Zealand Maoris rub noses and, for their part, few Nigerians kiss at all. At weddings, moreover, U.S. couples kiss, Koreans bow and a Cambodian groom touches his nose to the bride’s cheek, as do many Native American people.
The world over, people wear much or little clothing, have many or few children, venerate or shun the elderly, are peaceful or warlike, enjoy different kinds of art and music and hold different religious beliefs. We may be the same people biologically, but we certainly differ in our tastes, behaviors and beliefs. The capacity for such startling differences is human culture; the study of how people live is the discipline of sociology.
Sociology is the systematic study of how human societies shape the lives of people who live in them. People make lots of decisions in the course of living every day. But we make these decisions within the context of “society;” our family, school, nation and the larger world. The essential wisdom of sociology is; the social world guides our life choices just as the seasons influence our selection of activities and clothing.
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Is Sociology For You?
Do you want to make the world a better place?
Are you a people watcher who enjoys seeing what others do and how they react to various situations?
Are you curious about why things are as they are?
Have you ever worked as a volunteer for an organization with a mission of helping others in need?
Are you fascinated by the customs and cultures of people who differ from you? If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, you may have what it takes to become a sociologist! What should you expect from starting sociology? Most people who begin are excited to find how different the world looks when viewed sociologically. Our way of life loses its “taken for granted” quality and comes alive with questions about “How?” “Why?” and “For whom?” I am passionate about sociology mostly because it is fun to do. It opens your mind and provides answers where you did not even realize there were questions!
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