MDJ1632 Social Sciences

Learning Unit 1: Introduction to Social

Science

Edited: Dr
Saraswathy
Thangarajoo

Ms Chen Ai Ling

Department of
Nursing
Faculty Medicine
and Health Science
 Learning Objectives
At the end of LU 1 students will be able to:
● Appreciate the origins and development of

the social sciences

● List the 6 main types of social sciences

● Name the methods used by social scientists

● Describe the social science philosophies

 Introduction

Nursing draws on knowledge from a variety of

subjects eg., biological sciences, sociology,
biological sciences, sociology, psychology, politics
and ethics
 What is Social & Science?

Social Science
● Relating to
● The study of the
physical and natural
human society world and phenomena,
and how it is especially by using
organized systematic
observation and
experiment.
What are Social sciences?
● The field of human
knowledge that
deals with all aspects
of individuals and
group life of human
beings
● Subjects that
examine and
explain human
behavior
● Human behavior is
the function of a
person’s
characteristics and
the characteristics
What is Social Science?
An academic discipline
concerned with society
and the relationships
among individuals
within a society

Which often relies

on empirical
[practical]
approaches
● Anthropology
● Economics
● Political science
● Geography
● Psychology
Why do nurses study Social
sciences?
● Acquire more knowledge
about what it means to be
human
● Help us know the mystery
of the society and improve
our interactions with each
other
● When we understand
ourselves better, we
understand our world
better
● Once we understand, we
are able to identify
problems and create more
effective solutions
Social Science Terms

●
Society
●
Socialization
●
Social
interaction
●
Social process
●
Social
structure
●
Social
pathology
Society

Defined as a
group of people,
who share a
common
background

● Economy
● Infrastructure
● Culture
● Social
Socialization

The process which

has a lifespan by
which society
transmits its cultural
values through
institutions/ agents

● Family
● Peers
● School / Education
● Religion
● Media
 Social Interaction

Social interaction
emphasizes how
people react when in
the presence others
Social processes

REPEATED forms of
social interaction
between individuals and
groups to establish
social relationships

Various of forms of
social interaction

● Cooperation
● Conflict
● Competition
● Exchange
● Accommodation
Co-operation
● Occur when 2 or more
persons or groups work
together to achieve a
goal that will benefit
many people

● Can be used with other

form of interaction

● Get things done

Conflict
● Deliberate attempt to
control by force, oppose
or harm the will of
another person

● Conflict has few rules of

conduct
Competition
● 2 or more persons or
groups oppose each
other to achieve a goal
that only one can attain
● Follows accepted rules
of conduct
● Positive but can lead to
conflict
Exchange

● Individuals, groups,
societies interact in an
effort to receive a reward
for their actions
 Accommodation

Compromise Truce
Two parties both give Brings a halts to
up something to conflict until a
come to an compromise is
agreement reached

Mediation Arbitration
A third party acts A third paty makes a
as a counselor in decision that is
helping two parties binding on all parties
reach an agreement
Social structures

● The stable arrangement of

institutions whereby
human beings in a
society interact and
live together

● “Social stratification"
most societies are
separated into
different strata

● Family, Religion,
Economy, and Class
are all social structures
Social Pathology

Describe social factors such

as
● Poverty
● Neglect
● Old age
● Crime / Lawlessness
● War

that encourage social

disorder

At the same time refers to the

study of these factors and the
social problems they cause
 01
The origins and
development of
the social
sciences
 Historical Time Frames Antiquity

● The development and progress of human

knowledge.
● Social science can be traced back to
Greek civilization.
SOCRATES PLATO ARISTOTLE
Socrates: 469 - 399 BC

Socrates was a classical Greek

philosopher credited as one of
the founders of western
philosophy, and as being the
first moral philosopher of the
western ethical tradition of
thought.
Socrates: 469 - 399 BC

Socrates believed that

philosophy should achieve
practical results for the
greater well-being of society.
He attempted to establish an
ethical system based on
human reason rather than
theological doctrine.
Socratic Method — which
compelled the audience
to think through a
problem to a logical
conclusion.
Plato: 427 - 347 BC

Plato was an Athenian

philosopher during the
Classical period in Ancient
Greece, founder of the
Platonist school of thought,
and the Academy, the first
institution of higher learning
in the Western world.
Aristotle: 384 - 322 BC

Aristotle was a Greek

philosopher and polymath
during the Classical period in
Ancient Greece. He was the
founder of the Lyceum and the
Peripatetic school of
philosophy and Aristotelian
tradition. Along with his
teacher Plato, he has been
called the “Father of Western
Philosophy”.
Confucious145 - 86 B.C
● Philosophy of Confucius emphasized
personal and governmental morality -
correctness of social relationship -
justice and sincerity
● Confucius’s principles- based on
common Chinese tradition and belief
● Believed in: strong family loyalty -
ancestor worship – respect of elders
by their children and of husbands by
their wives
● His principle “Do not do to others
what you do not want done to
yourself”, an early version of the
Golden Rule
AL Biruni: 973 - 1048 AD
An outstanding Muslim
scholar who characterized
the Golden Age of Islamic
Science

● Anthropologist
● Astronomer
● Mathematician
● Physicist
● Physician
● Geographer
● Geologist
● Historian
18th Century:1700 - 1800
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
(1712 - 1778)

● A French philosopher and

writer of the Age of
Enlightenment
● His Political Philosophy,
particularly his formulation
of social contract theory (or
Contractarianism), strongly
influenced the French
Revolution and the
development of Liberal,
Conservative and Socialist
theory
Auguste Comte: 1798 - 1857

● A French philosopher often

called the “Father of
Sociology”
● First used the term
“sociology” in 1838 to refer to
the scientific study of society
● He believed that all societies
develop and progress
through 3 stages:
○ Religious
○ Metaphysical
○ Scientific
 19th Century: 1800 – 1900
Founders of Social Sciences

● Max Weber German sociologist, philosopher, jurist,

and political economist. His ideas profoundly
influenced social theory and social research

● David Émile Durkheim a French sociologist formally

established the academic discipline of sociology

● Karl Marx was a German philosopher,

economist, historian, sociologist, political
theorist, journalist and socialist revolutionary

All 3 are commonly cited as the principal

architects of modern
day social science as the 3 founders of
sociology
Karl Marx: 1818 - 1883

● Karl Marx was a philosopher,

economist, sociologist,
journalist, and revolutionary
socialist.
● Born in Prussia to a middle-
class family, he later studied
political economy and
Hegelian philosophy.
David Emile Durkheim: 1858 - 1917

● David Emile Durkheim

was a French sociologist,
social psychologist and
philosopher.
● He formally established
the academic discipline
and – with Karl Marx and
Max Weber – is commonly
cited as the principal
architect of modern social
science and father of
sociology.
Karl Max Weber: 1864 - 1920

● Karl Emil Maximilian

“Max” Weber was a
German sociologist,
philosopher, jurist, and
political economist whose
ideas profoundly
influenced social theory
and social research.
● Weber is often cited, with
Emile Durkheim and Karl
Marx, as among the three
founders of sociology.
20th Century: 1900 - 2000

● Since the mid-20th

century, the term
“Social science“ has
come to refer more
generally, not just
to sociology, but to
all those disciplines
which analyze
society and culture
 Views on Social Sciences

One of the most interesting subjects to study. WHY?

Because human behavior is fascinating

Nurses deal with people, therefore human behavior

Knowledge and understanding

● Communication
● Conflict resolution
● Motivation

Is it helpful. WHY?
 Views on Social Sciences
Can help improve our understanding of our lives

Help us improve our interactions with each other

Provide insights into many social situations such as

● Raising children
● Family relationships
● Friendships
● Work place relationships
● Interactions with stranger s
● Cultural differences
● Religious diversities
Social Sciences Objectives

● Welfare of individuals
and
society
● Justice and fairness
● Peace and harmony
● Mutual co-operation
● Material and moral
advancement
● Personal freedom
● Protection of life
and property
Under the umbrella of …
 02
The 6 main types
of social sciences
6 Major Social Science Disciplines

● Anthropology
● Sociology
● Economics
Social ● Political science
Sciences ● Geography
● Psychology
Anthropology as a social science

● Studies what makes us Human

● Study of people world-wide,
their history, behaviors,
communication and
socialization
● Focused on the biological
features that make us
human physiology,genetic
structure, and evolution
● Also social aspects such as
language, culture, politics,
family and religion
Anthropology

Known as the 'science of

humanity', covers a broad
range of topics from
● Human behavior
● Cultural relations /

development
● How the evolution of

humanity past and

present has influenced
society's structure
An Anthropology Question
Why is DEATH celebrated in some
cultures?
● Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead),
Mexico. Flickr / Byron Howes
● Ari Muyang, Malaysia. YouTube /
Manaweblife
● Chuseok, Korea
● Pitru Paksha, India (and the Hindu
world)
● Obon, Japan
● Hungry Ghost Festival, China
● Pchum Ben, Cambodia
● Galungan, Bali
● Wake, Ireland
Sociology as a social science

● The study of the development

structure and functioning of
Human society

● The scientific study of the

society including the patterns of
social relationships, social
interaction and culture

● Focused to a group of people

belonging to that society
Sociology
Sociology is the study of
origin, development and
structure of human society,
and the behaviors of
individuals and groups

Covering topics such as

● Social class
● Religion
● Social mobility
● Education
● Urbanization
● Population
● Sports
 A Sociology Question

Why is crime increasing in lower class income groups?

 Economics as a social science

Analyzes the production, distribution

and consumption of goods and services
 An Economics Question

Why are uncommon objects more

expensive than common
products?
 Another Economics Question
Why are some common products more
expensive than other common
products?
 Politics as a social science
Studies political organizations, institutions,
especially governments
 A Political Science Question
Why do politicians fail to deliver on their
pre- election promises?
Geography as a social science

Studies
● The physical world / climate

/ plants / animals
● Its human inhabitants /

people
● The interaction between the

two
● Communities
● Asks questions about

people and their lives

The study of geography
is about more than just
memorizing places on a
map
It’s about
understanding the
complexity of our
world, appreciating the
diversity of cultures
that exists across
continents. And in the
end, it’s about using all
that knowledge to help
bridge divides and
bring people together.
 Aspects related to Culture

Cultural Cultural Cultural Cultural

Awareness Knowledge Sensitivity competence
Self Health beliefs Empathy, Assessment
awareness and behaviors trust skills Diagnostic
Ethnocentricit Anthropological, Interpersonal/ skills Clinical
y Cultural socio-political, communicatio skills Changing
identity psychological n/ skills and adressing
Ethnohistory and biological Acceptance prejudice,
stereotyping understanding Appropriatene discrimination
Similarities and ss Respect and
differences Barriers to inequalitites
Health cultural
inequalities sensitivity
STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4
Psychology as a social science

● The scientific study of the

human mind and its
functions

● Study’s the Mind and

Behavior

● Focused on an
individual
person
 A Psychology Question
Does violent media cause people to
become violent?
 Social Institutions - Overview

Family Education

Religion
Economics

Government Power and politics

Health and medical care

 Family as a “Social institution”
Status Mother, father, son, daughter

Wives and husband must be sexually faithful to

one
Role another
expectation
Parents protect, instruct and nourish

children Children obey their parents, go to

school and do
their chores
“All for one, and one for all”
Values
“Blood is thicker than water”

Help one another. Don’t rat on family

Norms members. Parents treat children equally.
Children treat parents with respect.
A Family related Question
Is family important?
Family “functions”

Primary function
It is the building block of any society.
The family fulfils two basic functions.
These are reproduction and
socialization. Society reproduces or
recreates itself through the family

Secondary function
Parents play the roles of nurturing,
caring for, teaching and training
children; children are expected to
play the roles of good and teachable
trainees
 Education as a “Social institution”
Education is the institution that passes on
essential cultural knowledge to members of
a society.

Education is necessary to pass information and

knowledge of the culture from one generation
to the next
 Education

Why do we go to school?

According to functionalists, a
key purpose of education is
transmitting culture. Since
functionalists believe that social
institutions contribute to the
stability of society, teaching
culture is essential if a society is
to survive
Religion as a “Social institution”

Religion: unified system of beliefs

and practices relative to sacred
things (Durkheim).
● Durkheim believed religious
bonds often transcend personal
and divisive forces
● Offer people meaning and
purpose

Religion allows us to “do

something” about calamities we
face
● Encourages us to view
personal misfortunes as
relatively unimportant
Religion - Functions

● Religion is an agent of
socialization
● Religion promotes welfare
● Religion is play social
control
● Religion is influences
economy
● Religion provides
mental
peace
● Religion gives man comfort,
strength and hope in times
of crisis and despair
Government as a “Social institution”
The purpose of government is
to keep order and make group
decisions
● General public services
● Defence
● Public order and safety
● Economic affairs
● Environmental protection
● Housing and community

amenities
● Health
● Recreation, culture and

religion
● Education
● Social protection
The Economy as a “Social institution”
The economy is the social
institution responsible for the
production and distribution of
goods.

The 2 dominant economic

systems in the world are:
● Capitalism under which

resources and means

of production are
privately owned
● Socialism a system under

which those resources

are owned by the society
as a whole.
Economies: Which one?
Conclusion

MDJ 1632 Social sciences

will add to your knowledge
base obtained in MDJ 1622
Behavioral sciences