Every human being is born into a group and spends a lifetime in patterned social relations.
Sociology studies how people together create these relations and what are their consequences. Thus, sociology can provide individuals with an understanding of how the groups they are a part of influence their lives. By viewing ourselves in the group context we can become aware of how our lives are intertwined with those of others and how we are affected by the society in which we live. Sociologists are often interested in understanding and explaining the major social problems that plague societies in which they live and study. By getting at the roots of such problems as poverty, racism, family break-up, crime and delinquency, sociology can help those who are interested in solving such problems to develop ideas for change and more effective social policies.