The Three Social Sciences Psychology Sociology Anthropology Psychology

The Three Social Sciences Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology

Psychology • The study of people’s feelings, thoughts, and personality development – Focuses on the individual – Goal is to discover the underlying triggers or causes of human behaviour such as past experiences or genes. – E. g. Why does Henry appear sad or depressed much of the time? Branches: clinical, social, industrial, forensic, child

Sociology • Focuses on the development and structure of human society and how it works – Looks at how people behave/act in groups – Examines social structures created by people such as family, government, schools, justice system, prisons, army, etc. – E. g. What kinds of groups or cliques do students form in high school? Branches: criminology, social work, urban

Anthropology • Examines the development of the human species and human cultures throughout the world – A human culture consists of the ways of living of a group of people including their traditions, inventions, beliefs, values – E. g. How is the culture of Canadians different from the culture of the Japanese? How are humans similar to chimps? Branches: cultural, physical, medical, forensic

• These three social sciences are not conflicting disciplines • They overlap in what they study and the methods they use – Therefore, they largely support one another • E. g. Both psychologists and sociologists study criminal behaviour

The Montreal Massacre • Watch the video • Read “How Do Social Scientists Study the Human Species? ” in groups of four (4) • Select one section to focus on as a group (psychology, sociology, anthropology) and fill in the relevant section of the chart • Discuss as a class

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What Would You Do? • Now it’s time to start thinking like a social scientist! • Watch an episode of “What Would You Do? ” • Keep notes on questions that a psychologist, sociologist, and anthropologist might ask.

What Would You Do?