Back to: Learning and Development B, ed Notes, M.A Notes, Graduation Notes
Social Factors Affecting Personality Development
In a sociocultural setting, personalities grow and flourish. Social codes or social norms comprise the sociocultural environment. As a member of society, a person must follow these rules. He must follow socially acceptable behaviour guidelines and dress in line with society’s cultural norms. He will be an outcast in society if he doesn’t follow the rules. He will probably have challenges. Throughout his growth, a youngster picks up on these conventions gradually and progressively. Several organisations are in charge of shaping and developing his personality. Below is a quick summary of these organisations.
Family: It is the main factor in a person’s personality formation. The youngster is introduced to the social structure here. For the first five or six years, the youngster lives solely with the family. The most important stage of a child’s growth occurs during this time. There is general agreement among psychologists that these years provide the foundation for one’s personality.
But throughout all phases of growth, including childhood, the family’s impact is crucial. The environment in the house and the interaction between the parents and children there has an impact on how a child’s personality develops. The child will develop a healthy personality if there is an atmosphere of peace, love, understanding, harmony, and respect for one another. The youngster will acquire the habit of free will if he is given freedom about his possessions, including his food, clothing, literature, and other items. However, if his parents make these decisions for him, he will not have the chance to use his judgement and will instead wind up being overly reliant or subservient.
Similarly overprotection or under protection shown by the parents or permissive style shown by them does not contribute to the balanced development of personality of the child.
The birth order of the child in the homes also affects his personality. If he is the only child in the home, he may grow into a tyrant. With the arrival of a new baby, he may develop jealousy and an authoritarian type personality. The second child is always eager to be equal to or even surpass the first. The youngest child wants to remain a pet and dependent.
School: In addition to the family, schools also have a role in a child’s personality development. Children learn how to interact with huge groups of people at school. The depth of the curriculum, the availability of extracurricular activities, how the school enforces discipline, the structure of the school, and the behaviour of the instructors and other students all have an impact on the personality of the kid.
In addition to helping the child grow socially, emotionally, academically, and cognitively, a good school gives him a wider perspective on life. These factors have a good impact on a person’s personality if the school offers a broad and balanced curriculum if it provides enough recreational facilities and if there is capable supervision. The youngster experiences a sense of community at school. On the other side, the absence of these items has a negative impact on the development of the child’s personality. The youngster can grow to dislike school. He could end up being truant and then a delinquent.
Neighbourhood: The person’s neighbourhood has a significant impact on their personality. The youngster engages in conversation with neighbours. The beliefs they hold dear, the attitudes they exhibit, the kind of education they acquire, the schools they attend, and the kind of work they do—all of these things have a direct or indirect impact on a person’s personality.
