Sociology

Sociology, in a nutshell, is about why people behave in the ways that they do, and the key premise is that behavior is shaped by the contexts in which people live. Filmed in Britain and New Guinea, this multi-segment program introduces the sociological concepts of personal, social, and role identity; of primary and secondary socialization; and of culture, with its associated concepts of learned norms and values, ethnocentrism, cultural diversity, and cultural change.

This multi-section program explains the role of sociological theory, distinguishes between structure and action, and sheds light on three major perspectives in sociology—societies as organic structures, societies as economic structures, and societies as social action—by looking at their origins and key ideas and then showing how they can be applied.

This seven-part series discusses origins, core concepts, and applications of sociological theory, sociology’s relationship to evolving societal frameworks, the conducting of sociological research, and much more.