3. Theoretical Framework: Bronfenbrenner’s Theory
A Russian born psychologist, Urie Bronfenbrenner, established a groundbreaking theory regarding child development and functioning. Bronfenbrenner’s theory is based on a child’s development within the context of the system of relationships that form his or her environment.
Before Bronfenbrenner’s theory radically changed the way psychologists explained and studied human development, it was said that social scientists often only focused on the “narrow aspects of a child’s world” (Swick & Williams, 2006). Bronfenbrenner believed that all of these “narrow” theories could be used together to create a new field of study, which he called the “ecology of human development”.
Bronfenbrenner was a very
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In the context of this study, the two main influencers of the microsystem in this context seems to be peer pressure and inadequate role modeling by parents and significant others. With regards to adolsecents peers, many qualitative and quantitative studies have been done to illuminate the significance of peer pressure as a reason for adolescent alcohol abuse, as it was found that youth value the opinions of their peers as very important to their social standing (Hoberg, 2003). A study undertaken by Perry et al, found that 88,9 percent of youths who reported life time drunkenness were significantly likely to have friends who use alcohol. In a study done by Parry et al (2004), it was found that youths who abuse alcohol were significantly likely to have friends who use alcohol. Furthermore, Ghuman et al (2012) also found that adolescents were 3,6 times more likely to have participated in heavy drinking within the last month were if they had friends who use alcohol. In light of all these studies it is clear that peer groups play a cardinal role in cultivating adolescent drinking. Family and inadequate role modeling by parents also plays an important part in the alcohol abuse of adolescents. Ghuman et al (2012), found that adolescents named their parents and guardians as people who influenced their lives the most. Furthermore, the study concluded that adolescents are 1,9 times more likely to have used alcohol, or participated in binge drinking, if they had seen their parents severely
Urie Bronfenbrnner stressed the importance of the systems that surround each person, and the significant impact they have on that person's development. These
The second stage of Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Theory is the Mesosystem. The Mesosystem is a system comprising the connections between immediate environments (i.e., a child’s home and school). The Mesosystem provides the connection between the structures of the child’s Microsystem (Berk, 2000). Examples consist of the connection between the child’s teacher and his parents, and between his church and his neighborhood. For example, if a child's caregivers
The Microsystem refers to the environment that has a direct influence on an individual; school, home, place of worship, teachers, and peers are included in the Microsystem. A personal example is that my mother, an extremely prominent figure in any person’s Microsystem, noticed that I had a rather good potential for working on creative stories. As a direct influence on me, she gave me praise on the stories that I showed her and gave me encouragement to continue working on my writing. Therefore, she directly influenced my psychological development since her praise heightened my self-esteem and allowed me to have a good self-image of myself thanks to the environment I was raised in.
According to Bronfenbrenner’s theory there are five different layers of an individual’s personal development. These layers are composed of multiple varying factors of universal values, societal customs, and governing laws. An individual experiencing the stages of
The microsystem refers to the activities, social roles and interpersonal relationships experienced by the individual in a face-to-face setting in their immediate environment. Examples of a microsystem include a child interacting with school friends and family. The mesosystem makes reference to the connections between the different aspects of the microsystem, for example the links between family and the work environment as the work environment can affect the family environment. The exosystem refers to the links between two or more settings with at least one of the settings not directly influencing the person, for example, the workplace of a parent and the home environment. The macrosystem is the overarching paradigms of the micro-, meso and exosystems. The macrosystem is the
Some research studies show relation from parental influence and upbringing of a child to underage drinking (Ary, Tildesley, Hops, Andrews 1993). In this study conducted by Ary et al., 173 families with two children were questioned. The object of the examination was to explore the attitudes and beliefs parents were teaching their children about the consumption of alcoholic substances. Within the study a mother, father, sibling and the target teenager undertook a self-assessment to measure their alcohol
In the article, “Risk and Protective Factors for Alcohol and Other Drug Problems in Adolescence and Early Adulthood: Implications for substance Abuse Prevention “(1992) authors, Hawkins, Catalano, and Miller, discuss the implications which can lead to drug use and abuse. The authors suggest that “abuse of alcohol and other drugs during adolescence and early adulthood remains a serious public health problem” (p.64). Drug use is noted as being seriously harmful, able to easily to become addicted to, as well as it can be toxic to those around, including family members. As suggested by the article, “certain characteristics of individuals and of their personal environments are associated with a greater risk of adolescent drug use” (p.81). The
The ecological theory of development that was proposed by Urie Bronfenbrenner (1917-2005), is relevant to state all of our lives. Bronfenbrenner’s research demonstrates how our development is affected by the environment in which we live. The model consist of five major systems; microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem. "Ecological systems theory is an approach to study of human development that consists of the scientific study of the progressive, mutual accommodation, throughout the life course, between an active, growing human being, and the changing properties of the immediate settings in which the developing person lives, as this process is affected by the relations between these settings, and by the larger
Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model explores the relationship between a child's environment and that child's development. In his theory, Urie Bronfenbrenner defines several layers that make up the overall system in which the child functions. These layers are known as the Microsystem, Mesosystem, Exosystem, Macrosystem, and Chronosystem. Each of these layers plays a role in influencing the development of the child as well as each other and the child, in turn, has an impact on these layers. This process is referred to as a bi-directional influence. The actions of the parent affect the behavior and beliefs of the child while the behavior of the child affects
In this paper, I will be talking about how an individual develops throughout their life and the many changes they go through while still maintain the skills they’ve learned. Human Development is very important for a person’s emotional and physical growth. In this paper, I will be discussing Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Model, providing examples of Mesosystem, Ecosystem, and Microsystems. Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development and Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Reasoning will be addressed by giving examples of what stage of cognitive development Harry shows and what stages of Kohlberg’s theory he represents. This paper will further the understanding of the different developments a person goes through to reach their fullest potential of
Every problem has a beginning, where the domino effect starts. In most cases people get started drinking not because they like it, but because it is illegal and it gives them a chance to rebel. The so-called “rebel” becomes bored of drinking alone and eventually seeks “company” when they are drinking. The only catch is that the “rebel” can not be the only one drinking so the “company” has to drink. This is where the problem with peer pressure and teenage drinking begins and the first domino starts the chain reaction. There are two types of peer pressure. There is direct peer pressure where a subject’s peers actually force him into having a drink. There is also indirect peer pressure where the subject enters a setting and his peers are drinking so he decides to have a drink to fit in with the rest of his peers (Articles-Teenage Drinking 2). Surveys show that alcohol abuse is related to teenage activities such as going on dates and going to parties (Teenage Alcohol Misuse 2).
Adolescent substance abuse is a major problem in society. There are many risk factors that can contribute to adolescent substance abuse. One of the main risk factors is peer pressure. When adolescents start at a young age there is an increase in health problems, addiction, and over all poor social outcomes. Parental influence has substantial effect on adolescents because the adolescent sees their parents and they learn by their example. Media plays a role in the use of drug and alcohol use among young people. Many school systems have implemented programs that teach adolescents about the problems of substance abuse that is funded
Bronfenbrenner U. (1977). Toward an Experimental Ecology of Human Development [Electronic version]. American Psychologist, 32, 513-531.
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 (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.