Socio-Cultural Factors Influence Behavior

Psychology according to behaviourists is the scientific study of mental processes, its main goal being to control behaviour (Watson 1913). There are many theoretical perspectives that help identify factors that influence behaviour and these include the behaviourist approach, the psycho-dynamic approach and the socio-cultural approach. Thabani as cited in the case study is going through a phase of emotional distress and this is impacting his behaviour. The psycho-dynamic approach and the socio-cultural approach might help to identify the source of his problems. Children tend to develop as they participate in socio-cultural activities (Martin, Nelson& Tobach1995). The sociocultural approach analyses how the social and cultural environments impact

Baron, Byrne & Suls (1989:6) define Social psychology as the study of the nature and a means of understanding the causes of individual behaviour in social situations, people tend to behave in a certain way due to social and cultural factors Stevenson(as cited in Santrock J.W. 2005: 15). Sociocultural approach stresses that there is a relationship between knowledge and socio-cultural practises (John-Steiner & Mahn 2011). This approach also not only compares behaviour in different countries but also behaviour of people within the the same country but different cultural groups Matsimuto (as cited in John-Steiner & Mahn, 2011). Thabani was raised to be a well-mannered young boy by his grandmother as he took part in traditional rituals with his friends. He then moved to a local university to study and therefore stopped participating in traditional rituals. In University, Thabani was mixed up with people from different cultural groups, he might have failed to adapt, that is why his behaviour changed. In the past, Thabani worked hard and passed in school most probably because of the learning environment where he was surrounded by people from the same cultural and social group. When he had time, Thabani would go out and play and this made him happy as a child. Thabani no longer had a social life; he became depressed more than usual. This resulted in Thabani loosing hope in life. Therefore socio-cultural factors

He walked to school every day and had never used any mode of transport that is why he was afraid of using moving vehicles. Thabani remembered being constantly sad and depressed maybe because his father had abandoned as a child, abandonment by the father might be the cause of Thabani feeling worthless in his adult life. As Thabani continued to repress all these memories, his adulthood life was influenced by his unconscious mind where his behaviour was unknowingly being impacted by his