Social factors affecting development

• Social factors affecting development
• Assess how social factors can affect development


  • Family dysfunction, bullying, religion and culture
• Factors affecting Human Growth and Development

  • Nature/Nurture debate related factors
  • Genetic factors that affect development
  • Environmental factors that affect development
  • Social factors that affect development
  • Economic factors that affect development
  • Major life events that affect development
• Family dysfunction


  A family that is not providing all of the support and benefits associated with being in a family
• Factors that could cause a dysfunctional family

  • Separation or divorce
  • Stress caused by mental health issues, poor housing and low income
  • Poor parenting skills
  • Controlling, aggressive and manipulative family members
  • Neglecting children
  • Parents inconsistent in teaching children how to behave in society
• Parenting styles


  The different strategies/ways that parents use to bring up their children
• Parenting styles


  • Authoritative
  • Authoritarian
  • Permissive
• Authoritative parents


  • Not overly strict; children are brought up to respect authority and develop appropriate values and boundaries
• Permissive parents


  • Make few demands, and may be reluctant to implement rules or values into the lives of their children. Children therefore often lack self-control as they have no set boundaries or respect for personal space
• Authoritarian parents


  • Have very high expectations, often overwhelming their children with strict rules and regulations. Children are often rebellious and may become problematic both in the family home and in social settings
• Development can also be impacted by no parental involvement, where parents make few demands or responses
• Some parents are unaware of the power they hold over their children
• Constant exposure to high levels of family conflict, especially in dysfunctional families
• Rosenthal and Doherty (1984) suggests that children who are in rivalry with their siblings or involved in bullying have quite often been bullied themselves by their caregivers
• Sometimes parents can unintentionally cause competition between siblings
• Bullying


  Behaviour by an individual or group, usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group, either physically or emotionally
• Types of bullying


  • Verbal: using words
  • Cyber bullying: using technology
  • Physical: using force
  • Emotional: causing psychological hurt
• Task!


  1. On one side give reasons on why/how someone may be bullied

  2. On the other side explain the impact of being bullied
• Reasons why/how someone may be bullied

  • Race, culture, religion
  • Teasing
  • Hitting
  • Threats
  • Social media
  • Cyber bullying
  • Humiliation
  • Emotional
  • Name calling
  • Stealing
  • Gossiping
  • Revenge
  • Being bullied themselves
• Impacts of being bullied

  • Reduced self-esteem
  • Stress
  • Depression
  • Social anxiety
  • Poor self-image
  • Feeling unsafe
  • Lonely
  • Social isolation
  • Low self worth
  • Self-harming
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Suicide
• Culture


  Literally means "the way of life of society". It includes the ideas and ways of behaviour
• Religion


  An organised system which involves the worship of a super-human power such as God or Allah. It is a faith or method of worship
• Belief


  Refers to the acceptance that something is true or real. It links to trust and faith
• Impact of culture, religion and beliefs on development

  • Positive emotional and social effects: Sharing values increase feelings of belonging and boosts self-esteem, Feeling valued by others increases self-confidence and promotes higher aspirations
  • Negative emotional and social effects: Discrimination can make people feel excluded and lack belonging, Cultures can be misunderstood or ignored
• Impact of lifestyle rules from culture, religion and beliefs on physical health

  • Dietary restrictions may cause nutritional deficiencies e.g. vegetarianism can lead to deficiencies in calcium and vitamin B12
  • Fasting (prolonged deprivation of food and drink) can lead to constipation, dehydration, weight gain/loss, heartburn, stomach ulcers and migraines
  • Rules on medical interventions can lead to conditions deteriorating and possible death
• Task! Consider the positive impact on diet. What are the benefits of vegetarianism? What are the benefits of not drinking alcohol?