Final answer:
Sociology highlights the impact of societal influences on individual choices, understanding that personal decisions are made within a broader social context. While not dismissing personal responsibility, sociology examines how social norms, values, and structures shape behavior and decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sociology addresses the tension between personal responsibility and societal influence by highlighting the impact of society on individual choices. This acknowledges that while individuals make personal decisions, those decisions are often strongly influenced by the societal norms, values, and structures around them. The perspective of sociology does not ignore personal responsibility but rather seeks to understand how broader social contexts shape individual behavior and decision-making processes.
For example, in considering the decision to marry, individual feelings play a significant role in American culture. However, societal factors such as the social acceptability of marriage in a person's circumstances are also influential. This demonstrates that personal choices are made within a social framework that affects and informs these choices.
Moreover, theoretical perspectives within sociology, such as structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism, offer different viewpoints on how society and individuals interact. Sociology uses these theories to better understand social events, interactions, and patterns at both macro and micro levels.