Sociologists seek to understand human behaviour and attitudes by examining how these are shaped by history, culture and a society’s political and economic arrangements. Sociologists examine how ‘macro’ issues such as race, class and gender, environmental destruction, and technological innovation are linked to the constraints and opportunities faced by individuals. Of central concern to sociology is the study of social inequality at the local, national and global levels. Sociologists also study how societies change and how such changes affect the life chances of individuals and groups. Sociological research spans a very wide range of subject areas including family, gender, aging, social movements, health, religion, population, science and technology, community development and the natural environment.