Human beings are social creatures, meaning they cannot live alone and avoid interacting with other people surrounding them. It means that the history of humanity can be presented as the process of interaction between individuals within a society. For this reason, sociology, or a systematic study of people’s behavior from a biological perspective, is vital for understanding how humanity evolves and functions (Kendall, 2018). I believe that information learned through the course is vital for future life and the ability to interact within society.
First of all, sociology promotes a better understanding that any society can be viewed as an entity consisting of groups interacting with others. Every group has its own structure, purpose, and peculiarities of interactions typical for its members (Kendall, 2018). I am also a part of a specific group, meaning that realizing its nature is vital for my personal and professional development. Family can also be considered a certain social group formed by individuals with certain goals. In real life, it means that individuals should realize why they engage in relations, which can make them healthier.
Moreover, sociology offers specific perspectives on society that might help to explain the peculiarities of its development and functioning. These include functionalist, conflict, symbolic, and postmodern frameworks. For instance, applying the functionalist perspective to my everyday life, I can realize that every individual is expected to perform specific functions following society’s expectations (Kendall, 2018).
Following these rules, it is possible to ensure higher levels of integration into certain communities and avoid conflicts that might emerge due to the inability to act according to the existing patterns. At the same time, from the conflict perspective, different social groups constantly struggle to possess and control limited sources (Kendall, 2018). It creates the basis for numerous conflicts peculiar to every community. In real life setting, it means that I can analyze the root of various issues and resolve them by realizing what resource triggers the conflict.
The course also cultivates an enhanced understanding of culture as a core element of any society. It has four major elements vital for understanding, such as symbols, language, values, and norms (Kendall, 2018). The modern world is characterized by increased diversity, meaning I will meet individuals representing various cultures. For this reason, it is vital to understand their values and the elements mentioned above. It will promote better cooperation with them, contribute to higher understanding levels, and lead to a reduced number of conflicts that emerged due to the poor understanding of other groups’ cultural peculiarities. In such a way, concepts learned through the course are helpful in real life.
Finally, sociology emphasizes the critical role of religion and education in contemporary societies. During the course, we viewed these two institutions as the major forces shaping individuals’ values, beliefs, and behavioral patterns they use in their daily interactions (Kendall, 2018). For instance, education helps to socialize and understand belonging to a particular group. I believe it is vital in everyday life as it leads to a better understanding of future opportunities and how they can be realized. On the other hand, the enhanced understanding of religion’s role in society is also vital for daily interactions and positive relations.
In such a way, after the course, I am sure that studying sociology is vital. This field of knowledge helps to understand how society functions and why some features emerge. At the same time, it cultivates a better vision of an individual’s role in a particular group and how a stronger position can be acquired. For this reason, I believe it is essential to acquire this knowledge and use it in everyday interactions. Surprisingly, all concepts studied during the course have a high practical value, and they are not detached from real life. It means that individuals acquire relevant information on how to interact within a certain group.
Altogether, I am sure that the course was beneficial for me. First of all, it offered an enhanced understanding of sociology and the importance of this science. Now, I understand the significance of studied concepts and their applicability to situations emerging every day. It justifies the high practical utility of this field of knowledge and the necessity to continue its investigation. At the same time, by employing the acquired knowledge, it is possible to avoid conflicts and align better interactions within a certain group or community. For this reason, I am sure that sociology is one of the fundamental humanitarian sciences that individuals should learn.
Reference
Kendall, D. (2018). Sociology in our times: The essentials (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.