Sociology is the scientific study of the origin, development, organization, and functions of human societies. It helps to understand how individual lives are affected by for example gender, social background and ethnicity.
It comprises everything from studies of close-knit social relations to the cultural and formal institutions of society. Sociology contributes to the knowledge of how peoples´ working conditions and health are affected by organizational structures. The subject also studies how identities and groups are shaped by religion, ethnicity, and gender, creating social communities as well as social conflicts.