Expert: Ralph Salier - 2/16/2010

Question
I want to compare and contrast SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY with the following; sociology, psychology and anthropology.

Answer
HI Mutairu,

First of all you need to understand the family tree of Anthropology.  Anthropology is the broad study of human beings, all of us.  Below Anthropology are major areas of study such as:

Economics-the study of how we work together
Sociology - the study of our social structures and societies
Psychology- the study of how humans think and act
Human Geography - the study of how we decide where to live
Archaeology - the study of the remains of our societies
Physical Anthropology - the study of our physical remains

Below each of these a many sub-categories, some that link one or more together.

These may include:
socio-economics - the study of how society impacts monetary systems
social psychology - the study of the psychology of social systems or communities
social medicine - how we behave towards sick individuals within the community

and so on,

There are sub-categories of a different type as well

For instance, below Physical Anthropology are: Medicine, Psychiatry ( which is also below psychology), bio-medical ethics etc..
Human Geography has economic geography, political geography etc...
Psychology has psychiatry, political science, criminal science, forensics
Archaeology - all of the specializations in the different cultures, museology, site survey, etc...

And so on.  And because Anthropology is the broad study of humans, any thing  an every thing that has to do with us falls under its broad umbrella.  I would recommend that you look up the specific definitions of Sociology, Psychology and Anthropology and start your compare and contrast there.  Then using some of the information provided above, how does this further break down.

I hope that this is clear and understandable.  If not, please ask more questions and for clarification.  It also helps me to understand your age and if you are at university or not.