Sociology is the scientific study of society and human social behavior. There are three major sociological perspectives: structural functionalism, which views society as a system with interrelated parts; conflict theory, which focuses on power struggles over scarce resources; and symbolic interactionism, which examines how society shapes individuals and their interactions. Major areas of sociology include social organization, social psychology, social change, human ecology, population studies, sociological theory/research, and applied sociology. Classical sociologists who developed influential theories include Comte, Marx, Spencer, Durkheim, and Weber. Culture encompasses the knowledge, social norms, values, beliefs, and other capabilities acquired by members of a society. Key elements that shape culture