Difference Between Sociology and Psychology

While these two disciplines might sound similar, they couldn’t be farther apart from each other. Sociology is the study of the human society and its development, while Psychology is the study of the human mind. Sociology helps in understanding the evolution of human societies and how human civilisation can be made to prosper. On the other hand, Psychology helps find cures to mental disorders which can vary from person to person. While a sociologist helps in the development of the society, a psychologist helps people overcome mental hurdles and conditions.

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    Sociology

    First coined in 1780, by Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes, the word sociology can be traced back to the Latin words “Socius” which means companion and ‘ology’ which means study of.  Sociology is a social science which uses different methods of critical analysis to understand the human behaviour in a society. The goal of these researches is usually to create welfare in the state or a social group.

    Social stratification, culture, social class, social mobility, religion, secularization, deviance and law are all focuses of sociology. However, with the passage of time, this discipline has also expanded its focus towards health, military, medical, the Internet and political economy. Today countries take guidelines from established sociologists in formulating developmental policies.

    Image Courtesy: okanagan.bc.ca

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    Psychology

    A practitioner of psychology is called a psychologist, and his or her basic focus is to study the effects of mental behaviour of an individual on a society.

    Concepts of cognition, perception, attention, emotion, phenomenology, motivation, brain functioning, behaviour, personality, and interpersonal relationships are all explored by psychologists.

    Psychology involves experimental processes as opposed to observational processes. This word can also be traced back to the Latin word psychologia.

    Psychology deals with small groups and studies are carried out on a smaller scale. Nonetheless, the main purpose is to cure patients with therapy and find ways to prevent these disorders from returning.

    Psychology deals with the study of human emotions which can help define an individual’s personality.

    The roots of psychology can be traced back to Greece, Egypt, China, India, and Persia. Our behaviour has a direct link with psychological study and it is the way we think which helps psychologists conclude an analytical view about or state of mind.

    Image Courtesy: psychologytoday.com

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