Childhood Development: Biological and Social Influences

This essay, focusing on the FND3002 module, delves into the multifaceted aspects of childhood development, specifically examining the interplay of biological and social influences during this critical developmental stage. The essay highlights the importance of biological factors such as genetics, nutrition, and hormones, alongside social factors, including family, education, and societal structures, and their impact on a child's cognitive, emotional, and social growth. The essay also introduces key theoretical approaches used in social sciences, such as functionalism and conflict theory, to understand childhood development and how they apply to social situations. Furthermore, the essay discusses Action Identification Theory to explain the importance of actions in childhood development. The essay concludes by emphasizing the significance of early childhood development, its impact on children's emotional expression, and the development of crucial social skills. The essay underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of both biological and social factors to foster healthy child development.

fnd3002 The
Individual and Society

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Question 3: One developmental stage (Childhood) & the importance of biological and social
influences during the developmental period................................................................................3
Introductory understanding of key theoretical approaches used in the social sciences, in
understanding modern society.....................................................................................................4
Essential concepts and theories to social situations.....................................................................5
Sources of information................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Over the years, there are ample number of social and biological aspects that influence
development period of childhood (Lopez and et. al., 2021). It has been observed that social
influences and biological ones majorly impacts on childhood (development period - birth to year
8). This essay will be focusing on one particular development stage i.e. childhood and
importance of biological and social influence over a development period only.
Away with this, some of the theoretical approaches used in the social sciences, in
understanding modern society. On the other hand, essential theories and concepts to social
situations are also going to be included in this section. Lastly, an introductory understanding of
research in relation with social and biological influences majorly on childhood (development
period) and their application in practice is also done.
MAIN BODY
Question 3: One developmental stage (Childhood) & the importance of biological and social
influences during the developmental period.
Within the study of human societies, it has been observed that socio-biology can closely allied to
evolutionary psychology, human behavioural ecology and evolutionary anthropology. It has been
found that, early child development can be considered as something which is mostly influenced
by a great number of societal and biological factors. Biological elements majorly play a
significant role within early development period (childhood). There are a range of influences
which impacts on children in different ways (positive and negative). It has been observed that,
children throughout belonging to particularly development during critical times like early
childhood as well. Based on many of the investigations that was done in the past, it has been
observed that biological factors which consists of different elements like brain chemistry, genetic
influences, nutrition, hormone levels, gender and so on (Burnett, Cheong and Doyle, 2018).
In present context, gender is a biological factor and in context to childhood, physical body
consists of various organs and becomes further differentiated as special sex hormones are
produced that play a role in gender differences. This could be understood with a good example of
boys where they typically produce a much more androgens (male sex hormones) and on the other
side, if it is compared with females than they produce estrogens which is said to be a female sex
hormone. Considering the same example, it has been observed that many health scientists have

studied, where it was mentioned by them that excessive amounts of androgens and estrogens
hormones may directly carry a huge impact on behaviour of a child. They have discovered that
young men with higher than ordinary androgen levels play and act also to their male companions
with typical androgen levels. On the other side, child with high androgen levels regularly display
more sexual orientation stereotypic male characteristics than do female child who have typical
androgen levels (Sawyer and et. al., 2018).
Away with this, nutrition is also a biological factor, which influence on childhood
development stage. Based on the suggestions, it can be observed that lack of nutrition, may lead
to negative social conduct in youth during a period for social and neurocognitive turn of events.
Based on the suggestions for improving positive wellbeing in childhood.
Introductory understanding of key theoretical approaches used in the social sciences, in
understanding modern society
Childhood refers to period between the age of two years to twelve years. It is the age where
child sees and embraces highest development in his whole life. Early childhood development
forms the basis of lifetime learning and development in this phase help child to grab an edge
with its future competitors. Learning in this age is very significant for life of every individual
that is why it is important to look after the development and learnings child is getting during this
age period (Shonkoff and et. al., 2021).
Functionalism
Functionalism is first pointed out by great English philosopher and biologist Hebret Spence.
As he was both biologist and philosopher, he tried to connect his knowledge of two fields and
form this theory. As per theory of functionalism it can be understood that as all the organs of
body are inter-connected to each other and work of them is also dependent of each other
similarly different parts of society is also inter-connected and dependent on each other. The part
of society referred by Spencer are social institute such as education, family, government, health
care, friends etc.
The impact of these social factors are very significant on early life development of any
individual (Dahl and et. al., 2018). As most individual in this age learn things from their
surrounding these social institute impact their core development physically, biologically as well
as mentally. Family culture, government initiatives for children, healthcare facilities for diseases
during childhood, educational development provided by school and child care institutions and

friends with whom they grow and learn different things. All these things decide how much chill
will be physically active and how much mental capacity child will possess. Also early childhood
is the stage where some individual caught chronic diseases.
Conflict Theory
Conflict theory is first pointed out by sociologist and philosopher Karl Marx. According to
him the world is full of competitive individuals who are scattered in different social classes and
various society. He explained that these individuals should compete for political, social and
material resources which are Income, education, healthcare, employment and job security, food
and housing. Austrian-Polish Sociologist Expanded this idea of Karl Marx by stating that
conquest and war is part of human civilisation and key basis of development (Boyce and et. al.,
2021).
According to him without idea of competitiveness, individual and economies are not able to
generate enough productivity and thus growth will stagnate or stop after a point of time. Human
have three basic needs which are food, cloth and shelter and for this individuals should compete
in order to survive. Social institutions such as religions, communities and government also show
such type of inequalities among themselves. This competitiveness is induced in child from their
early stage of childhood and thus it has high impact on child mental development. From very
early stage child are taught to compete with their counter mates in school, sports, healthcare and
all these thoughts are developed through surroundings (Jones and et. al., 2019).
Essential concepts and theories to social situations
It has been found that, there are a number of contemporary social psychology theories that
are available in today’s environment which focuses on shows the different scholarly inceptions
of the different viewpoints and approaches. Early conversations of social brain science have been
examined in on these scholarly starting points by featuring the contrasts among mental and
sociological research. An illustration of organic impact over social situations on children not
getting appropriate pointers as well. Based on the analysis, there are probably a range of children
won't develop in an appropriate way, despite the fact that they have acquired qualities.
In present context, a crucial theory in relation with social situation that can be applied on
the childhood development period i.e. Action Identification Theory (Doom and et. al., 2020).
Basically, Action Identification theory has given the information that performing a range of
action would lead to achieve or accomplish a task, where implications, maintenance and control

over actions are required. On the other hand, the expected characters for an activity, it is
measured by numerous measures and are progressively related in a personality structure.
Lower-level characters in this construction pass on the subtleties of the activity and
accordingly demonstrate how the activity is finished. More level of the personalities goes on a
broader comprehension of the activity, showing why the activity is done or what its belongings
and suggestions are. Recognizable proof level is relative, so whether a specific personality is
viewed as a methods or an end, a detailed information relies upon the character with which it is
thought about. The progressive degree of two characters is shown when an individual performs
one act personality by playing out another. Therefore, this theory can be applied in the situation
of childhood for better development of children in terms of both sociological and biological
aspects as well (Efevbera and et. al., 2017).
Influence of biological and social process on development stages of children
There are different influence of biological process and social process which have high
impact on development stages of children. Society and childhood are linked with each other. The
development period of childhood is critical process & requires detailed knowledge and
awareness. Moreover, research also stated that many reciprocal links among the central nervous
system, which recognizes & records experiences; the endocrine system, which produces
hormones that govern many body functions; and the immune system, which organizes responses
to infections and other challenges. Biological process are able to perform in well manner that can
leads to provide better development in children. The development period childhood requites
proper attention, focus so that outcomes are achieved and good values as well as ethics are
provided to childhood. This provide high impact on children envelopment which includes
emotion, learning and many more which leads to direct impact envelopment in children. Social
processes provides better and effective development which can provide better development in
children. This leads to provide better development which provides relationship with society that
can leads to provide better and effective emotion towards people of society. This can leads to
creates better and effective community. Due to social process, this provides better development
to children. This social and biological process highly impact on children and creates better and
effective development in children (Orben, Tomova and Blakemore, 2020). Importance of early
childhood development is that it gives children an outlet to express emotions with people outside
of the family. It is seen that children at age of 2 to 5 years old often start to learn how to manage

their feelings, emotions etc. It is important to provide a way for toddlers to interact with their
peers so they can develop all-important social skills. These are some of the influence which leads
to provide better and effective development in children.
CONCLUSION
After a brief analysis of above report, it has been concluded that it is crucial to childhood is
being affected by society as well as individual at wider scale. It is critically crucial for society to
have appropriate knowledge about environment so that it is easy to execute activities and other
procedures. Furthermore, it has been evaluated that it is responsibility of individual to understand
things and others in such a way that negative impacts are avoided easily. It has critically crucial
to focus on these development stages so that everything is being executed appropriately. This
report gives a brief information about how development stage of childhood is affected by
behavioural & social life. In this changing environment, it is necessary to be active about
activities that can positively as well as negatively affects the development period. It is too
analysed that changes are frequent so decisions making is to be done accordingly.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Lopez, M. and et. al., 2021. The social ecology of childhood and early life adversity. Pediatric
Research, pp.1-15.
Burnett, A. C., Cheong, J. L. and Doyle, L. W., 2018. Biological and social influences on the
neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants. Clinics in perinatology, 45(3), pp.485-500.
Sawyer, S. M. and et. al., 2018. The age of adolescence. The Lancet Child & Adolescent
Health, 2(3), pp.223-228.
Shonkoff, J. P. and et. al., 2021. Leveraging the biology of adversity and resilience to transform
pediatric practice. Pediatrics, 147(2).
Dahl, R. E. and et. al., 2018. Importance of investing in adolescence from a developmental
science perspective. Nature, 554(7693), pp.441-450.
Boyce, W. T. and et. al., 2021. Genes, environments, and time: the biology of adversity and
resilience. Pediatrics, 147(2).
Jones, N. L. and et. al., 2019. Life course approaches to the causes of health
disparities. American Journal of Public Health, 109(S1), pp.S48-S55.
Doom, J. R. and et. al., 2020. Sensitive periods for psychosocial risk in childhood and
adolescence and cardiometabolic outcomes in young adulthood. Development and
Psychopathology, 32(5), pp.1864-1875.
Efevbera, Y. and et. al., 2017. Girl child marriage as a risk factor for early childhood
development and stunting. Social Science & Medicine, 185, pp.91-101.
Orben, A., Tomova, L. and Blakemore, S. J., 2020. The effects of social deprivation on
adolescent development and mental health. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.