Sociology is the scientific study of society, human social behavior, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It is the study of human social relationships and institutions, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social stability to radical change in whole societies. Sociology investigates the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts. Since all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology is diverse and ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob, from organized crime to religious cults, and from the sociology of work to the sociology of sports. Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives on the world, generating new ideas and critiquing the old. The field also offers a range of research techniques that can be applied to virtually any aspect of social life. Sociology is an exciting and illuminating field of study that analyzes and explains important matters in our personal lives, our communities, and the world.