The ecological theory of development was created by a Russian American psychologist named Urie Bronfenbrenner. He developed the theory based on his belief that all children grow and develop differently based on their environmental factors and the situations surrounding those environmental factors. The theory was comprised of four levels and later a fifth level was added. The microsystem level focused on those factors that immediately surrounded the child. Those factors could include: family, school, neighborhood, and church. Mesosystem level is a connection between two different environments, like school and neighborhood. Those external environmental factors such as the media, government, and extended family and friends are referred to as exosystem. The fourth level of the theory included environmental factors that were tied to cultural beliefs and national economy. The fifth level, chronosystem, was later added by Bronfenbrenner to show that changes occur over time within each individual. In studying these different levels of ecological development, it became clear that each of these levels has influenced my life at different stages. And each level had a different environmental influence on my progress.
In Bronfenbrenner’s model my microsystem consisted of my mother, father, and two younger brothers. My mother always worked full time outside of the home and only had one year of college. In contrast, my father had no college but had graduated from high school. He could not read very well and worked as a construction worker. His medical problems were many and he was diagnosed as disabled for most of my childhood. One of my brothers was only fifteen months younger than me, and the other was five and a half years younger.
The nex...
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...rsue a second masters in career counseling. I just recently got to the final stages of a job offer as a career counselor and was not offered the position. When asked for feedback about my interview, I was told that although my resume and interview was very impressive and I was among the top 3 candidates, I was not chosen because of my lack of direct education and experience as a counselor. So this just confirmed my decision that I have chosen the right time pursue another masters degree.
Works Cited
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Unviersity Press.
Crandell, T.L., Crandell, C.H., & Vander Zanden, J.W. (2009). Human Development (9th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill highter Education.
Paquette, D., Ryan, J. (nd) Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. Retrieved from http://pt3.nl.edu/paquetteryanwebquest.pdf
The environmental influences must be considered in order to understand the behavioral of a child. Urie Bronfenbrenner was a famous Russian American psychologist who formulated the Ecological Model Systems in 1979. He believed that as a child grow and mature, the way he/she interact with the environment become more complex. The Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model Systems defines how external environments and individuals affect the development of a child. It is made up of four systems that greatly influence the development of a child. The four systems are microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem. My parents divorced when I was 3 years old and I grew up in a broken family. My microsystem includes immediate relationship I interact with,
Schuster, C. S., and Ashburn, S. S., (1980). The Process of Human Development: A Holistic Approach. Boston: Little, Brown and Company Inc.
Crandell, Thomas. Crandell, Corinne Haines. Zanden, James W. Vander. (2009). Human Development. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Individual. Bronfenbrenner 's model envisions the developing individual with attributes such as age, sex, abilities, and temperament as the center of the model. (Berger, page 18) These characteristics will cause the interaction with the next level of the model in particular ways that evolve over time.
According to Malley-Morrison and Hines (2004), abuse is a very broad term, and it conveys images of destructive implications, so maltreatment is used by the author to define two diverse stages of abuse (p. 16). One level consists of the dangerous but lest severe form of abuse such as hitting, shoving, or calling someone names. There is violent abuse which consists of sexual abuse or injury to the person. The Ecological model is the model used by the Department of Health and Human Services to report and it helps the workers identify the underlying reasons, origins, and magnitude of working with child abuse and domestic violence.
Bronfenbrenner’s approach was to study children in their natural environments to explore how a child experiences and interprets their world within a complex system of relationships (Berk, 2009, p. 26). His theory regards the environment of a child; taking into account the practices within that environment and how they might influence development and of the child’s individual connections to show the way in which external forces and the child interrelate to influence their development (Paquette and Ryan, n.d.). It is important to recognise how the interaction of the systems with bidirectional (adults affect children’s behaviour but children’s behaviour can also affect adults’ behaviour [Berk, 2009]) influences within and between the systems can strengthen or interrupt healthy child development as each system contains roles, norms, values, beliefs and rules that can effectively shape their development.
Human development issues have remained critical in understanding how and why people behave the way they do. Several human development theories exist to explain human development from birth through to death. Some of these have focused on the psychological aspects of human development while others on the cognitive aspect (Piaget, 1971; Lerner, 2001; Swick and Williams, 2006). Other human development theories have also focused on the social and environmental aspects (Bronfenbrenner & Bronfenbrenner, 2009; Swick, 2004). This current essay examines one of the major social theories relating to child development. The theory to be examined is the Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory of human development. The essay will further examine the applicability of the Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory to my personal development, growing up as a child between the ages of 4 years and 12 years. In the first instance, the essay will focus on explaining the – Bronfenbrenner’s theory including the four types of systems described by the theory. Subsequently, the essay will examine how these systems apply to my life in relation to the social systems in which I grew in South Sudan in Africa. It will be seen that the Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory
Human development describes the life stages of human beings that progress from birth to death. This essay will use theorists Erik Erikson and Daniel Levinson to compare early adulthood to middle adulthood focusing on their physical, cognitive, and social development. The essay will also define stress and discuss the best ways to cope with stress.
The Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory focuses on how ones environment can affect a person’s development. It focuses on 5 main areas namely the Microsystem, Mesosystem, Exosystem, Macrosystem and Chronosystem (Bronfenbrenner, 1977, p. 514-515). Each system represents the setting in which they live in and how these people affect their growth. In this particular case study, Andy’s main influence is from the Microsystem and Mesosystem.
Microsystem: this tier is the closest one to the child and consists of the things the child has direct interactions with. It includes all the relationships and contacts the child has with their immediate surroundings, such as family, neighborhood, school, and childcare settings. There are two directions in which these relationships within this tier impacts the child, towards and away from the child. For instance: a child’s parents influence their actions and beliefs; then again, the child likewise influences the beliefs and actions of the pare...
Children are products of their environment. There are several factors that determine the future outcome of the child. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model breaks down the components that effect the child. This model contains several layers; the inner most layer is called the microsystem, then comes the mesosystem, the exosystem, and the macrosystem. Each layer describes different factors that explain how and why the child behaves or grows up to be a certain way.
Bronfenbrenner theorised that there are many different influences that affect a child’s development, forming 5 systems to categorise certain events, or environments into. This theory helps me to understand the theme of Nature Vs Nurture, as it gives some context as to what environments can affect a child's development. From this, we can work out solutions for each child's situation, to ensure that their development is still progressing.
Describe Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and how it impacts teacher practice. The Ecological System Theory declare that human beings development is impacted by the different types of environmental systems. For example, it states that humans jump from one stage to the next. For instance, one stage at a time like taking the stairs. However, it is an ecological system, because at the beginning a person starts interacting with their families, peers, classroom, and religious setting. Then, with school, community, etc., and lastly, culture, society, etc. Furthermore, it can impact teacher practice because teachers are part of the microsystem. Which mean that teachers are a positive influence and a role model for children’s. Moreover, teachers are part of the mesosystem and parents as well. Meaning that teachers and parents communicate directly towards their child’s goals, such as, encouraging a child’s interest in reading, or even racing a low grade. The result would be that children’s will rely on their parents and teachers to pursue their goals and this will impact a teacher’s
Craig, G. J., & Dunn, W. L. (Ex.: 2010). Understanding human development (2nd Ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.
In the concept of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems they played huge role to shape my character, values and so on to make me a better person right now that I still value them. For example, in my mesosytem to force me to be more religious because I studied in catholic school. Until now, I become more religious person and makes some more friends which it help me to build up my confident to my social activities. Also, my microsystem made me more independent because in my every early age I started to be help in house chores that helps me to be my foundation in the real world. Only few people will help out. So far, the concept of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems still keeps continuing as I grow up and helps me to be more successful in the real world.