SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

I. DEFINITIONS

1. Sociology – is the scientific study of society, patterns of social relationships, social

interaction, and culture of everyday life. A study which focuses not just in the structure
and function of social organization but also the changes which take place within it.

2. Anthropology – this focuses on the variety of questions and infinite curiosity about
human. Anthropology studies the individuality of a human being from its origin to what
its purpose and practices.

3. Culture – Culture is the social behavior and norms found in human societies. Culture is
considered a central concept in anthropology, encompassing the range of phenomena
that are transmitted through social learning in human societies.

4. Social stratification – Social stratification is a kind of social differentiation whereby a

society groups people into socioeconomic strata, based upon
their occupation and income, wealth and social status, or derived power (social and
political). As such, stratification is the relative social position of persons within a social
group, category, geographic region, or social unit.

5. Society – A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a

large social group sharing the same geographical or social territory, typically subject to
the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Societies are
characterized by patterns of relationships (social relations) between individuals who share
a distinctive culture and institutions; a given society may be described as the sum total of
such relationships among its constituent of members. In the social sciences, a larger
society often exhibits stratification or dominance patterns in subgroups.

II. Why is Sociology a science?

- Sociology and the Scientific Method. Sociology involves the scientific study of
society. Sociologists are interested in understanding the interactions between
humans and how human behavior is shaped by social structures, institutions, and
communities.
 Why is Anthropology a science?
- The methods range from those commonly used by the social sciences and
humanities to those of biology and geology. Biological anthropology and
archaeology are generally the closest to the biological and physical sciences in
methods and approach to learning about the human experience.

III. Branches of Sociology.

 Social morphology
This branch studies geographical aspects of society, such as how density of
population affects society.
 Social physiology
Social physiology studies the influence of religion, law, economy and other aspects
on society.
 General sociology
The philosophical part of sociology, as it discovers social laws from social
associations.

Branches of Anthropology.

 Social-cultural Anthropology.

Many socio-cultural anthropologists become interested in exploring the possibility of

a similar process of evolution in the field of society and culture.

 Physical (Biological) Anthropology.

It is a branch of Anthropology which attempts to explore human mystery related to

their origin, differentiation, diversities and distributions. With the advancement of
genetical sciences, it becomes more and more biology oriented, and by virtue of it, its
area of study got considerable extension.

 Archaeological Anthropology.

This branch of knowledge attempts to trace the origin, growth and development of
culture in the past. By past we meant the period before history when man had not
acquired the capabilities of language, not merely to speak but also to write in order to
record the story of his life.
 Linguistic Anthropology.

Linguistic Anthropology is that branch of anthropology which deals with language. It

is concerned with the languages of all people, past and present as it is the chief vehicle
through which man preserves and transmits his culture from generation to generation.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. retrieved December 2018, https://study.com/academy/answer/why-is-sociology-

considered-a-science.html

2. retrieved December 2018, https://www2.palomar.edu/anthro/intro/fields.htm

3. retrieved December 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture

4. retrieved December 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_stratification

5. Panopio, Isabel S., Rolda, Realidad S., Sociology and Anthropology: An Introduction.,
1988

Submitted by: Furog, Princess Mae B.

Bachelor of Science in Architecture V
University of the Visayas – Main campus