Final answer:
Sociology was initially met with skepticism and considered an emerging discipline. It was seen as a way to apply scientific methods to the study of society, amid debate over its potential to predict human behavior scientifically. Nonetheless, it has grown into a respected field influencing social policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
When sociology first developed, it was met with skepticism and regarded as a new, emerging discipline. It arose as a systematic study in response to the sweeping changes of the Industrial Revolution during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The field of sociology was seen as a way to apply scientific methods, akin to those used in natural sciences, to understand societies and social interactions. However, there were disagreements over the possibility of scientifically predicting human behavior and the value of such predictions. This led to a debate about the epistemological grounding of the discipline, further fueling skepticism about its legitimacy and potential contributions. Despite this initial reception, sociology has since evolved into a respected field that significantly influences social policies and reforms.
Early sociology's focus included topics such as economics and social institutions like family, religion, and politics. Ground-breaking theorists like Comte envisioned sociology as a positivist science that could foster human progress. The origin of sociology in Western Europe subsequently influenced American academia, where it became more empirical and data-driven, with figures like W. E. B. Du Bois furthering its practical applications.