How can sociology help us in becoming a better person?

Besides the fact that sociology gives us an understanding of the world we live in, it can also help us to understand ourselves in terms of the roles we play within institutions, ideas, and human culture. You can learn immensely about yourself through the social constructions you have encountered.

You learn where your ideas came from, why you react certain ways to situations, what are the advantages and disadvantages in the context in which you act in, why and how you adapt to certain norms and not others. You learn to see yourself as an actor whose role is influenced by the outside social world. You also learn not to take everything you see and hear for granted. You learn to face and interpret people not with your own emotional judgment, but with an objective, reasonable perspective.

Now how does all this help to make one better?

* In learning about why people do certain things or evoke certain responses, you learn to forgive people and see them, not as good, evil, stupid, incompetent people, but human beings acting according to their own ideas and upbringing.

* By understanding others, you learn true things about yourself that you may have never been conscious of. You realize the magnitude and liberation in being honest with yourself about what you feel, like/dislike, and think. * You learn to tear away emotions and false notions from everyday life. Thus, for example, when something happens to you that would've normally caused you to feel sadness or anger, your enhanced understanding of the world, emotions, and situations allows you not to stress so much about perceived problems, but instead learn from them, and move on.

* Sociology teaches you and challenges you to break myths people cling on to. * What you learn in sociology gives you an opportunity to teach to others so that they can understand and better their own lives.

* One of the imperative things you learn in sociology is, that how you live your life, and see yourself are results of perceptions. No longer do you see things as merely relative. With a shift in the way you view things, comes a shift in the way you live out things.

* "Nothing is as it seems"- a supreme sociological concept that always requires you to see the bigger picture. This concept can always allow someone to re-evaluate themselves psychologically, emotionally, and socially. * Because sociology can be a sort of mental exercise room or therapy in a sense, the great thinking and learning you achieve can help you accomplish many other goals.