Breaking down the difference between Anthropology, Social Anthropology and Sociology

As an anthropology student, I often get asked “What is anthropology?”. If you had asked me at the start of my degree I wouldn’t have known how to answer. I especially wouldn’t have known the difference between anthropology, social anthropology and sociology. Maybe you’re interested in studying one of the above subjects and want to know what you’re getting yourself into. Or perhaps you’re just curious about the distinctions between the three subjects, then this article will answer all your questions.

Anthropology, Social Anthropology and Sociology are all social sciences, however there are nuances between each of them.

What is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the study of humanity. It encompasses studying the languages, behaviours, cultures and societies of both modern and archaic humanity. There are multiple branches of anthropology including biological, sociocultural and linguistic. The research produced by anthropologists is an in-depth description called ‘ethnography’ which is formed through fieldwork and participant observation. Participant observation is when the anthropologist immerses themselves into the lifestyle of their participants and record their findings. Anthropology is an interesting subject to study as it encompasses everything you could think of. This is because anthropologists are interested in everyone, from members of the UK parliament to golf caddies in China. It is also an important subject as it has an influence on the way cultural and political issues are dealt with in the contemporary world.

If you’re interested in learning about anthropology at a university level in more detail, check out the London Anthropology Day held by the Royal Anthropological Institute.

What is Social Anthropology?

Social anthropology is a branch of anthropology and is the most common branch taught in the UK and the majority of Europe. It is the study of human societies and cultures across the globe. Social anthropology relies on ethnography as its main form of methodology compared to other subfields such as biological anthropology which relies on biological analysis. As a social anthropology student myself I have studied various aspects of human life, including kinship, politics and economics. This has helped me build an understanding of the underlying structures, whether it be political or familial, within different societies. Overall, social anthropology is not completely different to general anthropology it is simply a specialised area of the subject.

What is Sociology?

Sociology is the study of social structures and human relationships. Although it sounds similar to anthropology it is different because it focuses on contemporary social structures, behaviour, and problems such as law, sexuality and social class. Sociology often uses quantitative methods and theories of key thinkers such as Marx, Durkheim and Weber to analyse society. Studying sociology can help one improve their analytical skills as it is a data-heavy discipline as well as their critical thinking, communication and writing skills. Sociology is an important subject to study as it looks at everyday aspects of society more deeply and provides a way of understanding aspects of the social world in which we live such as romantic love, population growth and social movements. If you’re interested in studying sociology as a degree then check out the British Sociological Association’s guide of “Where to Study Sociology”. Maybe these subjects interest you greatly but you don’t know where a degree in them will get you. Find out what you can do with a sociology degree or research jobs related to an anthropology degree.

Summary of the similarities and differences between Anthropology, Social Anthropology, and Sociology

Here’s where the subjects overlap and an overview of how they differ:

Similarities

• All three subjects are social sciences.
• They all study aspects of human societies and cultures.
• Each field involves researching human behaviour and societal structures.
• They all aim to understand human relationships and societal dynamics.

Differences

• They each have a different area of focus; anthropology is a broad study of humanity, including ancient and modern cultures, languages, and behaviours, encompassing multiple branches like biological, sociocultural, and linguistic anthropology, social anthropology is a subfield focusing specifically on contemporary human societies and cultures, and sociology examines contemporary social structures, behaviours, and problems such as law, sexuality, and social class.

 

• They typically use different methodologies, whereby anthropology and social anthropology usually employ ethnography, fieldwork and participant observation. Sociology is broader and can include a wide range of quantitative and qualitative measures.

 

• Each subject has its own application and importance; anthropology influences the handling of cultural and political issues in the contemporary world; social anthropology helps us understand the political and familial structures within different societies, building specialised knowledge of contemporary cultures, and sociology enhances analytical, critical thinking, communication, and writing skills with insights into social issues and structures in the modern world.