Understanding Disciplines and Subjects, Disciplines and Subjects in Socio-Cultural Perspective

1. Unit 2 - Changes in Social Science

2. I. Meaning and Concept of Social Sciences :
• Social science is an academic discipline which describes
from a historical perspective the relationship between
individuals and the society,
• the role and functions of the society in shaping
individuals and
• the ways in which individuals have contributed to social
changes.
• Social science is essential for the day to day life of people
and
• for the governments to frame policies and plans.

3. II. The major objectives of teaching social science in schools
1. To
emphasize
the unity
of
mankind
2. To
stress that
the world
needs
peace,
brotherho
od and co-
operation
3. To make
students
realize that
it is
essential
to remove
social,
economica
l, gender
and caste
disparities
among the
people
4. To learn
to respect
religious
and
cultural
difference
s
5. To
remove
prejudices
and ethnic
centrism
6. To
understan
d
individual’
s rights
and duties

4. III. Sub-fields of Social Science :
The sub-fields or related subjects of social science will
help us to understand social sciences better.
• History:
• This is concerned with
describing the evolution of
collective entities like
communities,
• social organizations,
• countries,
• international organizations
etc.
• and the way they function.

5. 2. Geography:
• This subject describes a
region’s location,
• climatic conditions,
• nature of soil fertility and
• topography (landscape)
• and how all these affect the
livelihood,
• characteristics,
• physical strength of its
people.

6. 3. Civics:
This subject deals
with the duties and
rights of the
government and the
people.

7. 4. Politics:
• This field details about the
evolution of different systems of
government,
• the vertical distribution of power
within the governing institutions,
• various types of governments
(like monarchy, plutocracy
(government by the wealthy)
dictatorship, democracy etc.) and
• their respective merits and
limitations.

8. 5. Sociology:
• It is the systematic study of
society,
• individuals and
• organizations in the society,
• their functions,
• various types of social groups
and
• how they affect social
relations and experiences and
• their impact on human
behaviour.

9. 6. Anthropology:
it studied about ancient pre-historic
communities i.e. the origin of the human
race,
its culture and society, and
its physical development.
Now it does research on the life styles of
various social groups,
their customs,
traditions and
symbols and
try to document them.

10. 7. Law:
• Every country has its own
laws.
• It details the norms and
• the institutions established
• to protect law and the
punishment
• to be given to law breakers.

11. 8. Economics:
• This deals with the production,
• distribution and
• consumption of commodities
• in a scientific manner.

12. 9. Education:
• It deals with learning of
knowledge,
• practical skills,
• habits and
• attitudes as well as
• the methods of acquiring
/internalizing them.

13. 10. Psychology:
• It is the scientific study of the
human mind and its functions,
•especially those affecting
behaviour in a given context.
• It encompasses the biological
influences,
•social pressures, and
environmental factors
•that affect how people think,
act, and feel.

14. 11. Demography:
• It studies the population of a
particular region with the help of
statistical data
• i.e. the size of the population,
• its structure,
• the ratio of different categories
of people constituting it,
• changes in this ratio etc.
• it studies the population
dynamics (rates of birth, death
and migration).

15. 12. Criminology:
•It studies the criminal behaviour of an
individual or
• that takes place in the society in general.
• It studies scientifically about the nature of
such behaviour,
• their quantum,
• causes and
• consequences,
• controlling,
• managing and
• preventing them.