sociology
so.ci.ol.o.gy \-je-\ n [F sociologie, fr. socio- + -logie -logy] 1: the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships; (Xspecif : the systematic study of the development, structure, and function of human groups conceived as processes of interaction or as organized patterns of collective behavior 2: the scientific analysis of a social institution as a functioning whole a nd as it relates to the rest of society 3: SYNECOLOGY