Urie Bronfenbrenner created the Ecological Systems Theory. He believed that a person's development was affected by their surrounding environment. Bronfenbrenner thought that the process of human development was shaped by the different levels of interaction between an individual and their environment. He saw developmental psychology as studying individual influences and conceived his theory of human development. |
Photo Credit:
-http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Bioecological_model
-http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Bioecological_model
Bronfenbrenner's 5 Levels:
1. Microsystem: -This layer in the theory is the most important. It involves face-to-face interactions with the child's immediate environment (direct contact). In this level, the child learns that people can affect them and that they are also able to affect other people. 2. Mesosystem: -This layer in the theory is where connections take place between people that are in the child's immediate environment and those that are outside of it. For example, the relationship between parents and their child's teacher. 3. Exosystem: -This layer in the theory includes the influences that impact the child but the child does not necessarily get a say in the situation. For example, moving into a new house because the child does not get a say but is still affected by the change. 4. Macrosystem: -This layer in the theory is where the child's environment is the largest factor in what influences the child. Their contextual beliefs such as political values, religious views, or economical problems affect the child most. | 5. Chronosystem: -This layer in the theory involves the shift or change in a child's life. It means as the child gets older, the way they react to their environment is going to change. How this theory has affected me: When I examine my life with the idea of using this theory, I am able to see how I have become the way I am today. Each layer to the theory has had an effect in some way or another. The Microsystem layer has involve the basics of family, friends, and the teammates I've grown up with. These people have had an impact mostly by the conversations that I shared with them. Without the conversations, my perspective on life and my impressions on people wouldn't be the same as they are currently. The Mesosystem layer environment would have to be school based on the many roles I play and the activities I am apart of. The Exosystem layer would have to be basketball. Having practice each night and usually not being in the best mood after, I would neglect the people in my life that weren't apart of my team. The Macrosystem layer in my life would be the expectations that have been set for me to live up to since day one. Lastly, the Chronosystem layer in my life would consist of the some what major events that have effected me in previous years. These event have helped shift my thoughts and ideas in a way that has helped me mature as I grow. |
Resources:
-https://explorable.com/ecological-systems-theory
-http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=7930
-http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/bronfenbrenners-ecological-systems-theory-of-development-definition-examples.html
-https://explorable.com/ecological-systems-theory
-http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=7930
-http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/bronfenbrenners-ecological-systems-theory-of-development-definition-examples.html