Bonfenbrenner's Ecological Theory Paper

Developmental psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner first introduced the Ecologicial Systems model in the 1970’s. Bronfenbrenner argued that to understand human development, the environment in which the person belongs must be understood (Bronfenbrenner, U.1979). The Ecological Systems model concentrically depicts how a person’s development is influenced by their wider environment. In the original model there were four ecological levels in the system, however in 1979 Bronfenbrenner added an additional fifth level (Bronfenbrenner, U. 1994). With the developing person in the centre, the five progressive levels of environment include the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, marcosystem and the chronosystem.

The ecological system theory developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner views the child development as being in a system of connections affected by many levels of the surrounding environment (Berk,2006). This approach discussed by Berk (2006) starts with the inner most layer of this system being the microsystem. This system is made up of all the settings that personally interact and influence the child. Explained from Laser and Nicotera 2011) the immediate influences from the microsystem for an infant starts with the home and the interactions the child has with their parents or caregiver. This level in the system helps the child form social relationships that later in their life will take part in activities outside of the home. This type of involvement builds on the child’s physical skills (playing at the park, or out on recess) and cognitive abilities (involvement with preschool, schools and daycare). For Walter, many of

The Ecological Systems Theory was founded by Urie Bronfenbrenner. This theory focuses on the impact of the environment on a child’s overall development. The identifying characteristics of Bronfenbrenner’s theory are the five systems used to organize external influences within a child’s development. These systems are the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem. Each system is aligned with specific interaction levels. The microsystem is considered to be the most intimate of the levels, in which development is dependent on the immediate environment. The immediate environment would include adults, peers, and siblings with influence to learning new behaviors and the environment in which the

Sara Geliebter 10/27/14 HSP 315 Bordoloi Theory Application Paper I will be focusing on baby “Hattie” and the Ecological Systems theory. The Ecological Systems theory is based on human development and the human’s environment. There are five main components to this theory. These components include, the individual, microsystem, meso system, exosystem and macrosystem. There is also a time component that influences the environment as well that is called the chronosystem.

A person’s interaction with the environment at the macro, mezzo and micro level has a significant impact on their development. The environment and the individual is seen as a unitary system within a culture that affects each other. On the micro level, it is the interaction between individuals, for example, immediate family. On the mezzo level, it is the interaction with the neighborhood, the school, courts and other structures within the society. On the macro level, it is how cultural experiences, religious institutions and organizations affect people in society. Each of these systems contribute to how the person and the environment interacts at various level in society. Each of these three systems has impacted my own development and experiences.

I sometimes watch a show called “Roseanne”. In this show there are three children and a mother and a father. In the show the mother was working two jobs and the father worked one. The children were home a lot to fin for themselves. In this episode I saw several parts of the Bioecological Model of Human Development. If we look at the microsystems there are several components. Which were the child, family, school and the community. In the episode the mom had to go and interact with the school (Mesosystem) because one of the children were not behaving in school. The teacher made an assumption about of the child’s behavior and thought that the child was acting out due to the parents not getting along. The mother in the show got mad and took it out on the teacher which in turn created negativity in the child’s eyes because the teacher was

Similarly Bronfenbrenner recognised the importance of primary carers to children, his ecological system proposes that children are affected by many social factors and those closest to the child have the greatest impact. In the ecological system the parents and family are represented by the micro system, they are closest to the child and have the most influence them and their learning potential. (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). Therefore it is essential that the early year’s educator has a positive relationship with the parent for consistent and effective learning at home and in the setting. As well as recognising that parents have influence on their children the ecological system shows the environmental factors that have impact on the child and family; Bronfenbrenner defines the next layer of the ecological system, the mesosystem, as “the relationship between factors within the microsystem” (Kay, 2008:269) this means that the relationship the parents and educators within the child’s setting has an influence on the child; affirming just how crucial it is for practitioners to be in partnership with parents.

An Adolescents microsystems will incorporate any close connections or associations they cooperates with, for example, their close family or parental figures and their school or childcare. How these gatherings or associations interface with the child will affect how the kid develops; the all the more reassuring and supporting these connections and spots are, the better the youngster will have the capacity to

For the purpose of this paper, the term spirituality will include the specific adherence to a religious movement as well as broader forms of beliefs (i.e. meaning making, hope and faith, prayer). Spirituality is being considered because of the large role it plays in the lives of some individuals. There isWe see an increase in this number when

Bronfenbrenner Analysis Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Urie Bronfenbrenner is today credited and known in the psychology development field for the development of the ecological systems theory constructed to offer an explanation of the way everything in a child and their environment affects the whole child development. Bronfenbrenner ecological theory has levels or aspects of the environment containing roles, norms, and rules defining child development namely the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosytem, the macrosystem and the chronosystem. The subsequent discussion offers an analysis of these levels and their influence to child development, and then offers a personal analysis of the influence of the ecological theory in decision making.

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model deemed a child’s growth and development as influenced by everything in their surrounding environment and vice versa. He referred to the various levels of the person's environment as the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, the macrosystem, and the chronosystem which are a set of structures where one layer is contained inside the next and so forth.

Bronfenbrenner U. (1986). Ecology of the Family as a Context for Human Development: Research Perspectives {Electronic version]. Developmental Psychology, 22, 723-742.

Sigleman & Rider state the interwoven relationships of school and home can be in opposition causing problems from the mesosystem to spill over into the microsystem possibly having long-term effects on functioning (2014. p. 51). The negative impacts that Cheryl felt at school created a difficult relationship with her mother due to the fact Cheryl blamed her for the move. It took her many years to trust people outside of her family and the reservation. The effects Raj will experiences will be prevalent when his children are older, due to the fact he isn’t worried about himself as much as his children and the effect he will have on their exosystem. According to Shaffer & Kipp the Ecological Systems theory considers the many different environments and impact it has on the cognitive, social, and biological difference between children (2014. pg.

This theory looks at the child’s development within the context of the system of relationships that form within the child’s environment. It is also known as the bio ecological theory because it focuses on how a child’s biology, Family and environment can affect their development and how it can also be affected if anything changes. Within the theory there are four systems:

Bronfenbrenner’s (1977, 1979, 1989, 1993, 1994) ecological theory suggested that child (human) development occurs for the child within the context of various environments. These environments, or systems, are influenced from within and between other environments. The individuals within each system influence each other through various transactions that occur between them.