THE IMPACT OF THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT: A PSYCHOSOCIAL ANALYSIS OF CHILDHOOD

Abstract

This article sought to answer how the social environment influences child development, considering cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social aspects. Childhood is understood as a decisive phase for the formation of identity and personality, strongly marked by family, school, and community interactions. Thinkers such as Vygotsky and Piaget emphasize that knowledge is constructed in social relationships and within the historical-cultural context, highlighting the importance of contact with others for learning. Therefore, understanding the factors that favor or hinder this trajectory allows us to reflect on strategies that stimulate socialization and support cognitive and emotional development. To achieve this objective, the research conducted a literature review on platforms such as SciELO and Google Scholar, as well as academic works and official documents on childhood and human development. This investigation brought together theoretical and applied contributions, emphasizing the role of the psychologist as a mediator of socialization processes and a facilitator of the strengthening of children's potential, resulting in a broad view of how the social environment shapes human growth.