fostering has definitions from the field of sociology
1
[ noun ] encouragement; aiding the development of something

Synonyms

fosterage

Used in print

(The Rev. John A. O'Brien, "Let's Take Birth Control...)

The Roman_Catholic natural-law tradition regards as self-evident that the primary objective purpose of the conjugal act is procreation and that the fostering of the mutual love of the spouses is the secondary and subjective end .

Related terms

encouragement foster

2
[ noun ] (sociology) raising someone to be an accepted member of the community

Examples

"they debated whether nature or nurture was more important"

*