Understanding Social Sciences

What is Social Science?

• Social science is the scientific study of human society and social relationships.
• Humanities aim to understand human reactions to events, culturally, historically, and personally.
• Natural science aims to predict natural phenomena based on controlled experiments.

Defining Pure Social Sciences

• Social sciences explore the forces (historical, cultural, sociological, psychological, and political) shaping individual actions and their impact on society.
• These disciplines help understand complex societal issues.

Branches of Social Sciences

• Economics studies resource allocation, production, and exchange of goods & services.
• Anthropology studies humans and cultures, past and present.
• History systematically examines past events.
• Political science studies human behavior in political systems, law, and international relations.
• Psychology studies the human mind and its connection to the body, including thoughts and actions.
• Sociology studies human behavior in groups.
• Demography examines the composition of human populations.
• Geography studies the interaction between people and their environment.

Applied Social Sciences

• Applied social science uses pure social science concepts, theories, and models to understand and address social problems and issues.

Steps in the Scientific Method

• Problem definition
• Literature review
• Hypothesis formulation
• Data collection/analysis
• Conclusion & recommendations

Career Tracks in Applied Social Sciences

• Counseling: Provides guidance, help, and support for individuals with problems. (Guidance, Life, Personal Growth, & Career Counseling)
• Social Work: Improves well-being of individuals, families, and communities by improving collective well-being.
• Communication Studies: Trains for careers in journalism and mass communication (critical for conveying information accurately).

Goals of Counseling

• Insight: Understanding the origins of emotional difficulties & gaining control of feelings.
• Relating with others: Building meaningful relationships in family and workplace.
• Self-awareness: Understanding one's thoughts, feelings, and how others perceive them.
• Self-acceptance: Developing a positive self-attitude & acknowledging personal experiences.
• Self-actualization: Reaching full potential and integrating conflicting parts of oneself.
• Enlightenment: Seeking a higher spiritual understanding.
• Problem-solving: Finding solutions to problems clients face.
• Psychological education: Learning how to understand and control behaviors.
• Acquisition of social skills: Developing interpersonal skills, like eye contact and assertive communication.
• Cognitive change: Changing negative or harmful thought patterns.
• Behavioral change: Modifying self-destructive behaviors.
• Systematic change: Improving social systems.
• Empowerment: Giving clients the tools to control their lives.
• Restitution: Repairing harm done to others.

Areas of Specialization in Counseling

• School Counseling: Addressing students' social, emotional, and behavioral problems.
• Mental Health/Clinical Counseling: Treating mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, addiction).
• Rehabilitation Counseling: Supporting individuals with disabilities in functioning and achieving goals.
• Industrial Counseling: Addressing workplace stress, anxiety, or depression.
• Marriage and Family Counseling: Helping couples and families address relationship problems.
• Private Practice: One-on-one counseling for a variety of issues.
• Community Counseling: Supporting entire communities for improved relationships.

Counseling Principles

• Respect for dignity: Treating all clients with dignity and worth.
• Competence: Maintaining and updating professional skills.
• Responsibility: Acting ethically and responsibly towards clients, community, and colleagues.
• Integrity: Acting with honesty, fairness, and accuracy.

This quiz explores the nature and branches of social sciences, defining their roles in understanding human societies and relationships. Participants will learn about different disciplines like economics, anthropology, and political science. Test your knowledge on how these branches contribute to our understanding of complex societal issues.