The 7 differences between Psychology and Sociology (explained)

Both Psychology and Sociology are two sciences that are dedicated to the study of human beings. But the main difference is which is the target variable for each one. In reference to Psychology, the most important and relevant variable in his research is the person as an individual object. Conversely, Sociology will have society as the main factor of analysis, the group of people as a whole.

Added to the previous difference, there are others that are also relevant to mention, related to the methodology, areas or branches that form them, professional opportunities and main representatives and well-known figures in each one. In this article, we will point out the most notable divergences and try to make it clearer in which aspects Psychology is distinguished from Sociology.

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How are Psychology and Sociology different?

It is known that there must be differences between Psychology and Sociology, since you can study or train in one or in another discipline separately, according to the interests, objectives, study variables or work to which you want to dedicate. Next, we will describe and see in more depth what these differences are and what makes these two different sciences.

1. Definition

When we look at the definition and etymology of each term, we realize one of the differences between Psychology and Sociology, is reflected in the distinction of the study approach that pose.

The word Psychology is formed by the terms "Psycho" which refers to mind or soul and -logia which derives from the Greek word "logos" which means study or science. Therefore, if we consider the root and the suffix that form the word Psychology, we can say that this is the science or study of the mind or soul.

That is, it is the discipline in charge of studying, investigating, understanding human behavior, both its external and internal expression and the relationship that occurs between these two. Its function can be applied in different areas such as clinical, educational or work, dealing with both healthy subjects and subjects with psychopathologies.

The term Sociology is made up of the lexeme "Socio" which translates as partner or companion, and the morpheme -logia or logo which, as we have already pointed out, refers to study or science. In this way, we will say that Sociology is the science or study of society, of the collective. It is a social science, mainly focused on the study of the interactions that occur in society.

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2. Variables you study

If we take into account the definition of each concept presented in the previous section, we can already get an idea of ​​what each science will focus on. In reference Psychology, focused as we have already pointed out in the study of the mind, will have as the main variable to analyze and study the individual, the person as a whole, what are their mental processes, personalities, emotions, behaviors, as well as the possible alterations that the subject can present.

But despite being focused on knowing the person as an individual subject, they live in a society, which affects and influences the behavior of the individual, thus opening also the study of the interaction of the subjects with each other and with the context, external variables that affect and can produce changes to the internal variables of being human.

On the other hand, Sociology has focused on the study, specifically, of society, of people as a group that share an environment and relate to each other. In this way, the variables to be analyzed will be family, groups of friends, work group ... Group of people who interact with each other to a greater or lesser extent, forming closer and more intimate relationships or, on the contrary, less intense.

The smaller-scale study will be carried out from the perspective of microsociology, concentrating on everyday interactions and the minimal units that can be found in society. On the other hand, macrosociology will analyze the structure of society, focusing on specific events that affect a greater number of people such as wars, catastrophes or poverty.

3. Methodology used

Although the two sciences use qualitative methods, focused on non-numerical and quantitative data, referred to the analysis of numerical results. We can point out that one of the most used research techniques in Psychology is experimental, this directs its study to know the causes of behavior, that is, the direct relationship between one variable and another, as the variation in one of them means the modification of the other. This is the method with the highest degree of control and the only one that allows us to speak of causality.

Instead, Sociology will not focus on the study of causality, but will use the correlational method, which allows us to speak of the relationship between variables, but not to affirm which is the cause and which is the consequence, which is the direction of the effect or which is the independent variable and which is the dependent one.

4. Social Psychology VS Sociology

Within the science of Psychology, the branch or type of this that can generate more confusion, which has the most similarities with Sociology is Social Psychology. As the name indicates, Social Psychology is the specialty of Psychology that focuses its research on the person as a social subject, that is, the influence that society and the group produce on a specific individual.

The subject of study will be an individual and it will be observed and analyzed how to live in society and interact with other people affects different variables such as behaviors, cognitions or emotions. Most of the groups examined will be small, of smaller size, since they are the ones that end up having a greater influence on the individual.

Conversely, Sociology, which studies society as a whole, will use the analysis of larger groups, seeking that they are representative of society. It does not focus on individual subjects, but at least uses groups and groups of mostly large people as analysis variables.

In other words, and in summary form, Social Psychology focuses on the individual, observing how society influences and produces changes in this. On the contrary, Sociology studies society as a whole, the changes, thoughts, behaviors, variations that people have as a group.

5. Work areas

Given the differences in the functions of each science, the professional opportunities that each one will have will also be different. Next we will present the main areas in which you can specialize in both Psychology and Sociology and thus be able to dedicate yourself to work:

Psychology presents different areas of application, where the subject can be trained and specialized in order to work: Clinical Psychology, focused above all on the study and treatment of individuals with psychopathologies; Organizational psychology, with an interest in the workplace, how it influences people's behavior; Educational psychology, such as the study of learning; Evolutionary psychology, research on the development of the individual; Social psychology, analyzes the way in which society, other people, affect the individual; Neuropsychology, gives importance to the knowledge of the brain. The Psychologist will be able to carry out his work in different areas such as schools, health centers or organizations. Doing the role of psychotherapist or more the role of researcher.

In the area of ​​Sociology, the main job opportunities are: social intervention, focused on all in social awareness, carried out from NGOs, public administration or different foundations; social research, doing, for example, the work of consultant, consumer technician or advertising communication and marketing, as well as many others; education, here sociologists direct their work to assess knowledge and recognize skills and attitudes; work organization, to design, evaluate and manage the structures of organizations; and politics, focused on public policies.

7. Main managers

Given the different schools that constitute Psychology, it will have different representatives, some of the best known are: Wilhelm Wundt, based his studies on Experimental Psychology; Sigmund Freud, was the father of Psychoanalysis; John Watson, founder of Behaviorism; Aaron Beck, representative of Cognitive Psychology and the study of depression; Frederic Skinner, known for operant conditioning, and Martin Seligman, an important figure in positive psychology.

In the history of Sociology, important figures who made contributions to it were: Émelie Durkheim, known as one of the founding fathers of Sociology, along with K. Marx and M. Weber, established this science as an academic discipline; Karl Marx, a leading figure for communist and socialist ideals; Max Weber, founder of the modern study of Sociology and Henri de Saint-Simon, considered the precursor of socialism.