What does the term 'environment' refer to in the context of psychological influences?

In the context of psychological influences, the term 'environment' encompasses every nongenetic influence on an individual. This includes a wide range of factors such as cultural, social, familial, and educational experiences that shape a person's thoughts, behavior, and emotions. By considering the environment in this comprehensive manner, psychologists can better understand how various external elements interact with an individual's genetic predispositions to influence psychological outcomes.

Genetic factors, while important, fall outside the definition of the environment in this context, which focuses specifically on interactions that arise outside of an individual's biological makeup. Similarly, limiting the definition to only psychological factors or prenatal influences would not capture the complete array of influences that can impact behavior and mental processes throughout a person's life. Therefore, recognizing the environment as all nongenetic influences allows for a holistic understanding of psychological development and functioning.