sociocultural perspective

n. 1. Within the social sciences, any perspective which emphasizes or takes into account the importance of environmental factors to the development of humans and their behavior, thoughts, and feelings. 2. In developmental psychology, the view that the cognitive development of children is guided by adults interacting with the children in culturally determined times, places, and manners. This is opposed to the view that children simply unfold their natural pattern of cognitive development if given opportunity free of outside constraint. 3. Those points of view shared by most persons within a particular society or culture.