The question over the primacy of either structure or agency in human behavior is a central debate in the social sciences. In this context, agency refers to the capacity of individuals to act independently and to make their own free choices.  Structure, in contrast, refers to the recurrent patterned arrangements which influence or limit the choices and opportunities available. The structure versus agency debate may also be understood as an issue of socialisation against autonomy, and can be contrasted with the "nature versus nurture" debate.