Social Anthropology and Sociology, while both studying human societies, differ significantly in their historical development, scope, methods, and theoretical foci. Social Anthropology traditionally emerged from the study of small-scale, non-Western, and often pre-literate societies, emphasizing a holistic approach to understanding culture, kinship, religion, and political organization. Its primary method is long-term ethnographic fieldwork, involving participant observation to gain an insider's perspective. Key figures include Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown.

Sociology, on the other hand, developed primarily to analyze complex, industrialized Western societies. It often focuses on specific aspects of social life such as class, gender, inequality, institutions, and social change. Sociological methods tend to be more quantitative, utilizing surveys, statistics, and large-scale data analysis, though qualitative methods are also employed. Prominent sociologists include Durkheim, Weber, and Marx.

In essence, anthropology often seeks to understand the 'other' and the universal aspects of human experience through cultural comparison, while sociology typically aims to understand the 'self' (one's own society) and its specific social structures and problems. However, in contemporary practice, the boundaries have become increasingly blurred, with both disciplines often engaging with similar topics and employing interdisciplinary approaches.