• Sociology is a social science and a science of society. As a social science, it attempts to study social life as a whole. But for the complete study of social life as a whole sociology requires the help of other social sciences. Different social sciences are interrelated and one can’t make a sharp distinction between them. Social life is very complex. To understand this complex social life it is necessary to study all the aspects minutely. The factors and elements that influence social life are affected by both natural and social factors and elements. Hence, the subject matter of science has been categorized into two parts i.e. natural sciences and social sciences. While natural sciences are objective social sciences are subjective. Natural sciences are studied through scientific method. 

Sociology and Anthropology  

• Sociology is the mother of all social sciences. Hence it has close and intimate relationship with Anthropology. The relationship is so close that Anthropologists like A.L. Kroeber consider Sociology and Anthropology as twin sisters. They often appear as two names for the same  subject. R. Redfield recognizes the closeness between these two social sciences.  Sociology is a science of society. It studies behaviour of man in groups. Anthropology means study of man. As a science of man it deals with man, his works and behaviour.
• Anthropology studies the biological and cultural development of man. Anthropology has a wide field of study which can be broadly divided into four main divisions such as physical anthropology, archeology, cultural anthropology and social anthropology. Physical anthropology studies bodily characteristics of early man and thereby tries to understand both primitive and modern cultures. Archeology studies cultures of pre-historic period. This study facilitates sociologists to make a comparative study of present social structure. It is concerned with the early periods of human existence. It reconstructs the origin, spread and evolution of culture by examining the remains of the past societies. Social anthropology deals with the behaviour of man in social institutions. Social anthropology and sociology are one and the same. Evan Pritchard considers social anthropology as a branch of Sociology.  
• However there exists a very close and intimate relationship between Sociology and Anthropology. Both contribute to the growth of each other. Both have a symbiotic relationship. Anthropology studies primitive man in a pre-literate society whereas sociology studies man in modern complex societies. Anthropology is holistic in nature because it studies all aspects of man in a social setting; whereas this is not possible in sociology because of its vastness and complexity of modern life. However their close relationship can be known from the following.  Anthropology contributes to the growth of Sociology. Without the help of anthropology the study of Sociology can’t be complete. It is a part of Sociology. Anthropology provides knowledge about ancient societies. To have a comprehensive understanding of present society Sociology takes the help of anthropology.
• Contributions of many Anthropologists like R.Brown, Linton, Mead and Pritchard enriches sociological knowledge. The origin of family, marriage, religion etc. can be better understood through anthropological knowledge. Sociology accepts the concepts like cultural area, cultural traits, and cultural lag etc. from anthropology. Sociology accepts the anthropological conclusion that racial superiority is not responsible for mental development. ‘Thus Sociology is greatly benefited by anthropological studies.   Similarly, Sociology contributes richly towards the growth of anthropology. Anthropology accepts many concepts of Sociology. Research and contributions of many Sociologists like Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer is of great help to anthropology. Anthropologists greatly benefited by the Sociological researches. Ideas and conclusions of Sociology contribute to the research in  anthropology.