What is the Difference Between Social Theory and Sociological Theory

The main difference between social theory and sociological theory is that social theory is a set of ideas, hypotheses, arguments, or paradigms that help to study and analyze social phenomena while the sociological theory is basically a set of ideas that provides an explanation about society.

Although most people use these two terms interchangeably, some sociologists identify a distinct difference between social theory and sociological theory. According to Kenneth Allan, the social theory focuses on commentary and critique of modern society while sociological theory contains abstract and testable propositions about society. Moreover, the sociological theory attempts to be subjective, whereas social theory is less concerned with objectivity and is more likely to pass normative judgments.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Sociological Theory
– Definition, Characteristics
2. What is Social Theory
– Definition, Characteristics
3. Difference Between Social Theory and Sociological Theory
– Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Social Theory, Sociological Theory

The social theory refers to a set of ideas, hypotheses, arguments, or paradigms that help to study and analyze social phenomena. It helps to explain how and why human societies form, change and develop over time. It also explains concepts such as social behaviour, social structure and power, social norms, gender, ethnicity, and modernity. Moreover, most people equate social theory with an attitude of critical thinking and the desire for knowledge through a posteriori methods of discovery. Furthermore, social theory is an interdisciplinary field, drawing knowledge from various disciplines such as anthropology, gender studies, media studies, and political sciences.

Moreover, social theory (as we know it today) emerged as a distinct discipline in the 20^th century. Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu, Anthony Giddens, Dorothy Smith, Roberto Unger, and Jürgen Habermas are some well-known social theorists.

What is Sociological Theory

Sociological theory is basically a set of ideas that provides an explanation about society. Sociologists study social interactions, relations, events and patterns and formulate theories to explain various phenomena in the society.

Given below are a list of major sociological theories and frameworks.

Functionalism – describes society as a complex system whose parts work together while focusing on the ways social institutions meet social needs

Conflict Theory – suggested by Karl Marx, describes that society is made of individuals who are competing for limited resources

Symbolic Interactionism – focuses on the symbolic meaning that people develop and depend on in the process of social interactions

Feminist Theory – analyzes the status of women and men in society with the aim of using that knowledge to make women’s lives better

Rational Choice Theory – a framework for understanding as well as modelling social and economic behaviour

Furthermore, Talcott Parsons, Robert K Merton, George Homans, Harrison White, Randall Collins, Peter Blau, Immanuel Wallerstein, Theda Skocpol, and James Samuel Coleman are some famous sociological theorists.

Definition

Social theory is a set of ideas, hypotheses, arguments, or paradigms that help to study and analyze social phenomena while the sociological theory is basically a set of ideas that provides an explanation about society.

Content

Social theory is a commentary and critique of modern society, while sociological theory consists of abstract and testable propositions about society.

Objective

When compared to sociological theory, social theory is less concerned with objectivity.

Well-known Figures

Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu, Anthony Giddens, Dorothy Smith, Roberto Unger, and Jürgen Habermas are some well-known social theorists while Talcott Parsons, Robert K Merton, George Homans, Harrison White, Randall Collins, Peter Blau, Immanuel Wallerstein, Theda Skocpol, and James Samuel Coleman are some famous sociological theorists.

Conclusion

Some sociologists identify a distinct difference between social theory and sociological theory. According to Kenneth Allan, the social theory focuses on commentary and critique of modern society while sociological theory contains abstract and testable propositions about society.

Reference:

1. Crossman, Ashley. “15 Sociology Theories You Should Know.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 4 May 2019, Available here.
2. “What Is Social Theory?” Social Theory Applied, Available here.
3. “Sociological Theory.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Aug. 2019, Available here.
4. “Sociological Theory/Introduction.” Sociological Theory/Introduction – Wikibooks, Open Books for an Open World, Available here.