In sociology, there are two main currents that attempt to explain the receptivity of members of society and their capacity for action. There is the sociological perspective on the one hand, which is deterministic and claims that the environment influences the individual without any possibility for the individual to reclaim this environment. He or she therefore passively submits to this influence. The psychological perspective, on the other hand, considers that the environment does have influence as part of a social heritage, but it may be reclaimed by individuals in light of their own experiences. Thus individuals are not seen as passive receptacles. The social construction of an individual is accomplished through negotiation between heritage and experience.  

The advantage of the sociological perspective is that places the actions of individuals in a larger context. It allows us to make generalities that don't consider the complexity of a group's existence, but can reveal major trends and allow us to move forward more quickly with quantitative studies. The psychological perspective is based more on the individual’s experience. No generalities are possible, but it ensures that data is more complete and complex, and is the preferred methodological tool in qualitative studies.