What is a key feature of the sociocultural perspective in psychology?

The sociocultural perspective in psychology centers around the understanding that social and cultural factors significantly influence behavior, thoughts, and feelings. This perspective emphasizes that individuals are shaped by the society they live in, including norms, values, customs, and interactions with others within their cultural context. It highlights the importance of understanding how these influences operate in shaping an individual’s experiences, beliefs, and actions.

This approach contrasts with other psychological perspectives that might focus more on biological factors, observable behavior alone, or individual cognitive processes. For example, focusing on genetics addresses hereditary factors and innate traits, while an emphasis on observable behavior pertains to the behaviorist perspective, which prioritizes measurable actions over internal states. Meanwhile, cognitive perspectives delve into the individual's thought processes, which do not necessarily account for the broader societal and cultural dimensions that the sociocultural perspective emphasizes. This focus on the impact of social interactions and cultural background helps to provide a more comprehensive understanding of human psychology.