How did Herbert Spencer influence the field of sociology?

Herbert Spencer significantly influenced sociology through his application of natural selection concepts to social dynamics. This foundational idea is encapsulated in the phrase "survival of the fittest," which he used to draw parallels between biological evolution and societal progress. Spencer believed that societies evolve in a manner similar to organisms, adapting over time through competition and cooperation, which leads to social change and development.

His perspective encouraged sociologists to consider the influences of both individual behavior and environmental factors on societal structures, leading to a greater understanding of social processes and institutions. This application of evolutionary principles to social theory laid the groundwork for later sociological thought, encouraging exploration of how social factors shape human behavior and societal evolution.

The other choices, while related to broader scientific concepts, do not directly pertain to Spencer's contributions to sociology. For instance, the establishment of genetic principles and the identification of stages of mitosis are rooted in biology and genetics rather than sociology itself. Similarly, promoting uniformitarianism pertains more to geology and understanding Earth's processes over time, and it does not reflect the core ideas Spencer applied to social theory.