Influence of Social and Cultural Factors on Psychosocial Development

Major Takeaways:

• Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory explains the interaction between a person’s psychological growth and social environment, identifying eight life stages influenced by family dynamics, cultural values, socioeconomic status, and peer relationships.
• Family plays a dominant role during early life stages, shaping trust and autonomy, while peer relationships significantly impact identity formation and decision-making during adolescence.
• Living in a diverse environment fosters resilience, adaptability, and empathy, though challenges like discrimination and cultural dislocation can hinder psychosocial growth.
• Social Work Strategies for Diverse Backgrounds include culturally competent practices, trauma-informed care, strength-based approaches, and collaborative problem-solving that respect clients’ traditions and cultural norms.

Did you know that the psychosocial development theory is only 75 years old? In 1950, Erik Erikson introduced it in his book Childhood and Society.

Today, social workers use Erikson’s psychosocial development theory in their work. How? It explains the influence of social and cultural factors on psychosocial development.

What is the psychosocial development theory in the first place? This is the interaction between a person’s psychological growth and social environment.

There are eight distinct stages in life according to Erikson. As an individual progresses in each stage, they experience specific challenges or crises.

There are specific cultural and social factors in psychosocial development at every stage, too. Think of them as the framework upon which psychosocial development builds.

These are the most dominant social and cultural influences on development:

• Family relationships and dynamics
• Cultural traditions, norms, and values
• Socioeconomic status

If you’re interested in learning more about these factors, read on. As a social worker, you’ll learn to adapt your approaches based on these factors. After all, being adaptable to diverse situations and people is a must in your line of work.

Related:

• A Social Worker Intro to Psychosocial Development and Mental Health
• How to Become a Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM)
• How to Become a Certified Advanced Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker (C-ACYFSW)
• Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling Specialization in Accelerated MSW Programs

Understanding Social and Cultural Factors in Psychosocial Development

Social Factors

These are the four major social factors in psychosocial development. 

• Family structure. The family structure covers the family members’ composition, dynamics, and relationships. Families can be nuclear, multigenerational, single-parent, and blended families. These have a significant influence on a person’s psychosocial growth throughout life.
• Socioeconomic status. The term refers to a person’s social and economic position in society. The levels of socioeconomic status are high, middle, and low depending on income, occupation, and education. Socioeconomic status influences access to opportunities, resources, and services. Indeed, it’s a major determinant in overall quality of life. The higher your socioeconomic status, the better your quality of life can be.
• Education. Schools have a significant impact on psychosocial growth among individuals. K-12 schools provide structured environments where individuals develop their academic knowledge and skills. Beyond academics, children and teens develop personal relationships here.
• Peer relationships. The ability to start and maintain healthy peer relationships boosts psychosocial growth. Peer-to-peer interactions strengthen social skills, a sense of belonging, and empathy.

Cultural Factors

The cultural influences on development are just as powerful as the social factors.

• Traditions. These are the customs, rites, and rituals passed from one generation to the next. The result is a strong sense of generativity, a concept also introduced by Erikson. Generativity refers to the commitment and concern for nurturing the next generation (i.e., continuity). Traditions also provide individuals with a strong sense of identity. Individuals develop a better sense of belonging and social integration as a result.
• Values. Cultural values differ between societies. These influence personal priorities versus societal expectations at the individual level. For example, Eastern cultures tend to emphasize collectivism (e.g., family cohesion). In contrast, Western societies lean toward individualism (e.g., personal autonomy).
• Beliefs. Religious beliefs have a significant influence on the development of morals and ethics. These beliefs also provide people with coping strategies to overcome crises.
• Norms. These are the accepted roles and behaviors that influence the way a person navigates life. Norms can cover every aspect of life, from greeting people to performing gender roles.

These factors have a direct impact on the stages of psychosocial development, too. During the infancy stage, family stability boosts trust. Then, in early childhood, children in collectivist cultures learn interdependence. Children in individualistic cultures learn to be more independent.

Examples of Influence

The family impact on psychosocial stages differs at each stage. During their early years, children have more interactions with their family members. Parents and siblings will have more influence on their psychosocial growth.

In a family that encourages independence, a young child will have more opportunities to make choices. These can be in doing chores, choosing clothes, and picking food. The young child develops a sense of self-reliance and self-confidence in the process.

But in a family that emphasizes obedience, there’s a higher risk of shame and doubt. Young children doubt their abilities because of their limited decision-making opportunities.

As children expand their circle, peer influence comes into the picture. During adolescence, individuals create their own identities. Their peers become more influential in their choices, too.

Teenagers with a strong support system (e.g., friends) are more likely to succeed. In contrast, negative peer pressure can increase the risk of risky behaviors.

The Role of Social and Cultural Diversity in Psychosocial Development

We cannot overemphasize the role of diversity in psychosocial development. The United States is a melting pot of people, more so now than ever. In 2023, the US population was 58% non-Hispanic white, 20% Hispanic, and 13% Black, among other races.

Diversity creates an enriching environment for psychosocial development. Individuals develop resilience, adaptability, and empathy in a diverse environment.

But diversity also creates challenges, including conflicts. These can either weaken or strengthen an individual’s psychosocial growth.

These opportunities and challenges are particularly common among:

• Immigrant families adjusting to new cultural norms and values
• Adolescents from minority groups in multicultural settings who are creating their identities

There’s also the relationship between social inclusion and mental health that impacts psychosocial growth. Poverty, discrimination, and social exclusion limit access to mental health services.

Indeed, best practices in cultural adaptation in social work must be in place. As a social worker, you must have cultural competence.

Social Work Approaches to Adapting to Diverse Backgrounds

Here are the best practices in social work and cultural competence that you must be aware of.

Culturally Competent Practice

Adapting to diverse backgrounds demands understanding cultural norms and traditions in psychosocial growth. This way, you can earn your client’s trust and provide tailored interventions.

Trauma-Informed Care

As a social worker, your job is to provide safe spaces that allow clients to process their experiences. This is where the best practices in trauma-informed care in social work come in. Clients with trauma from systemic inequities and cultural dislocation benefit the most from trauma-informed care.

Strength-Based Approaches

These approaches focus on the cultural strengths that clients can rely on. Family bonds, spiritual beliefs, and community support are prime examples. These strengths enable clients to develop resilience and confidence.

Collaborative Problem Solving

You and your client work with their families and communities to find solutions. Be sure to respect their traditions, too, when offering your support.

Use of Translation and Mediation Services

You and your clients can have language barriers that prevent effective communication. This is where you must engage translation and mediation services.

Social and Cultural Factors Across Erikson’s Stages

Here are Erikson’s stages and cultural factors that affect them:

Infancy and Early Childhood

In infancy, the challenge is trust vs. mistrust. Parents and caregivers who provide consistent care encourage trust. Family culture has a significant impact here.

Then, in early childhood, the crisis is between autonomy and shame and doubt. Every culture has varying expectations about children being independent.

Adolescence

Identity development in diverse cultures is different, too. Cultural traditions and peer group dynamics influence the outcome of the identity vs. role confusion crisis. Adolescents with bicultural backgrounds can struggle to maintain a balance between old traditions and new environments.

Adulthood

During adulthood, the social influences on psychosocial stages become more pronounced. Young adults struggle between intimacy and isolation. Their cultural norms about relationships and their family’s expectations are at the root of it.

Middle-aged adults struggle between generativity and stagnation. Being able to nurture future generations versus doubting one’s purpose in life is a real struggle. You, the social worker, can foster generativity at this stage.

Overcoming Barriers to Equitable Psychosocial Development

Your clients will encounter barriers to psychosocial development at various stages of their lives. You can make it your advocacy in social work to decrease these barriers.

Address Systemic Inequalities

Start by acknowledging the impact of systemic inequalities on individuals and families. Racism, poverty, and a limited access to quality education are the foremost.

Promote Inclusivity

Then, advocate for social inclusion strategies that make individuals feel accepted. You can work with schools, workplaces, and communities for this purpose.

Advocacy and Policy Change

As a social worker, you can advocate for policies that address cultural and social disparities. You can lobby for legislative reforms and work with community organizations. 

Provide Increased Access to Resources

You can also work toward expanding access to essential services and resources in underserved communities. Education, mental health care, and social services are a priority.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there’s a strong influence of social and cultural factors on psychosocial development. To become an effective social worker, adapting social work to diversity is vital.

If you want more social work degree resources, explore our Social Work Degree Center. You’ll find more information about culturally competent social work.