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Four Social Science Disciplines That Contribute to Human Development

From the pyramids of ancient Egypt to the satellite dishes and skyscrapers of 21st-century cities, humans have developed complex cultures and a bedazzling variety of social, economic and political structures. They have done this mainly without the benefit of the modern social sciences, which emerged only around the 19th century. Yet, the disciplines of social science have yielded knowledge that can contribute to human development.

Definitions
- "Social science" is a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society. The term "human development" is inherently vague. Nonetheless, "development" conveys the idea of growth as opposed to stagnation, progress as opposed to regression, according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. Policymakers might use the findings of social science to shape and steer societies in ways reflecting their notions of progress.
Social Psychology
- Social interaction, the focus of social psychology, influences perceptions that shape behavior.
  
  In his book "Social Psychology," author Roger Brown shows how experiments conducted by social psychologists have cast light on questions such as the following: How strong is the urge to go along with the group to which you belong while resisting your internal sense of right and wrong? How do people use stereotypes in evaluating others? What triggers violence between groups? Government leaders can use the answers to such questions either to encourage belligerence or to foster goodwill between groups.
Sociology
- Attitudes and actions, sociology suggests, reflect the organization to which you belong.
  
  Sociology aims to understand how individuals and groups interact within a society, observes the Writing Center at the University of North Carolina. In explaining human behavior, sociology considers both the attributes of individuals and the features of society that may influence or constrain an individual's actions. For example, a sociologist studying bureaucracies might look at how rigid chains of command may inhibit honest feedback from subordinates to superiors. Managers can then use the findings to improve the performance of organizations like businesses, schools, and the military.
Economics
- Economics suggests that charging businesses for their toxic emissions will reduce pollution.
  
  In their book "Macroeconomics," authors William Baumol and Alan Blinder describe the scope of economics by noting certain facts that economists have demonstrated. For example, inhibiting free trade to protect domestic industries usually hurts the economies of both the home country and foreign exporters. Government polices designed to lower unemployment tend to increase inflation, and vice versa. Environmental pollution by particular industries can be decreased by charging each polluter for its toxic emissions. Such knowledge can help politicians make decisions that raise the standard of living for their constituents.
Political Science
- Knowledge from political science might facilitate rapports among governmental and business leaders.
  
  Political science seeks to explain who gets what, when and how, suggests the Writing Center at the University of North Carolina. The discipline consists of several subfields including American Politics, which focuses on political behavior inside the United States; International Relations, which aims to identify the motives behind state interactions as well as the constraints on state behavior; and Comparative Politics, which looks at how the same political processes unfold in different countries. Governments might use findings from political science, say, to thwart terrorism at home while encouraging democratization abroad.

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