Expert: Ralph Salier - 1/22/2005

Question
I am writing a paper comparing and contrasting the methodologies of anthropology, psychology, and sociology. What do you see as the major similarities and differences in these three fields?

Answer
Anthropology is the grand daddy of the other two.  Anthropology is the study of man.  Sociology is the study of man's society and psychology the study of man's psyche.  Along with medicine, ethnography, economy, political geography, and a host of other more narrow fields spawned from Anthropology.  Thus the methodologies are going to be some what similar since we are looking at human beings.  The largest contrast with be between both Anthropology/Sociology and Psychology because of the more medical and individualistic Psychology tends to be.  Both Anthropology and Sociology with have  many methodologies in common.  The differences you may find between Anthropology and Sociology is that with sociologists, they will look for the "unique" charecteristics of a particular society or even subculture within that society.  While Anthropology tends  to look for the commonalities across cultures and societies.

Hope this helps.