Which statement best describes the influence of culture on development?

Which statement best describes the influence of culture on development?

• A. Culture and social setting influence how a child grows and develops
• B. Culture has no effect on development
• C. Only genetics determine development
• D. Culture only affects language, not other domains

Answer: (A)

Culture and social setting shape development because a child’s growth emerges from the ongoing interaction between biology and the surrounding environment. The beliefs, routines, and practices a culture promotes determine what children see, hear, and try, which in turn guides how they learn, behave, and relate to others. This influences language development through the languages and communication styles used at home, social-emotional growth through attachment patterns and expectations for independence or interdependence, cognitive skills through the kinds of problem-solving experiences and play children are encouraged to engage in, and even physical development through nutrition and health practices. In short, culture provides the context that shapes development across many domains, not just one. The other statements overlook the pervasive impact of cultural context, ignore how environment interacts with biology, or falsely limit culture’s influence to a single domain.

Culture and social setting shape development because a child’s growth emerges from the ongoing interaction between biology and the surrounding environment. The beliefs, routines, and practices a culture promotes determine what children see, hear, and try, which in turn guides how they learn, behave, and relate to others. This influences language development through the languages and communication styles used at home, social-emotional growth through attachment patterns and expectations for independence or interdependence, cognitive skills through the kinds of problem-solving experiences and play children are encouraged to engage in, and even physical development through nutrition and health practices. In short, culture provides the context that shapes development across many domains, not just one. The other statements overlook the pervasive impact of cultural context, ignore how environment interacts with biology, or falsely limit culture’s influence to a single domain.