Bronfenbrenner 's Ecological Systems Theory

Children's and young people's development is affected by a wide range of factors, their background, health and the environment which they are growing up in all have an impact on their development. It is important to have some understanding of these factors in order to be able to respond and recognise to any concerns that may arise. Children and young people may come from a wide range of different family environments, cultures and circumstances. All these things will affect the opportunities each child receives and the breadth of the experiences they receive.

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

There can be cultural, ethical, and legal concerns associated with this theory are somewhat intertwined. The possible assumption that if a child is born poor, of ethnic minority, raised in a violent setting, and neglected by parents – foster care placement may lead to disruption within the child’s chronosystem. This can lead to attachment issues related to trauma, increased fight or flight reactions that may lead to legal issues, academic challenges, and poor social skills. There is a possible ripple effect from life events and socioeconomic status that could lead to changes with behavior in association with the child’s environment. Understanding this theory can help with application in a school setting

The old African proverb ‘it takes a whole village to raise a child’ (Mohamed, 1996, p. 57) rings significantly through Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (Bronfenbrenner and Evans 2000); a theory which focuses on gaining insight into human development through identifying the circumstances and considering the environmental influences of which a child is raised not just the genetic components.

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

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

This semester I participated in a service learning partnership with two other students. Through the semester I spent a little over ten hours with each of my partners. Most of the activities we participated in were activities in which we were able to get to know one other on more of a personal level. The thing that made this partnership interesting was the fact we were all from different parts of the world. Which means the way we had grown up was very different for each of us.

On Chapter 2, The Developmental, Ecological-Systems Frameworks Haight and Taylor presented “the five levels of social context critical to human development: the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and macrochronological system” (Haight and Taylor, 2016, p. 32). I think that as future social workers we have to consider people in the environment and the presentation of these five levels of social context play an important

One successful means of compromise was offered by Urie Bronfenbrenner in 1979, when he introduced the "Ecological Model" of child development. His model, which looks like a bulls-eye, has the child and his or her individual characteristics at its center. The first "ring" around the child is the microsystem, consisting of the child's immediate surroundings. The next "ring" is the mesosystem, a series of connection between elements of the microsystem. The third "ring" is the exosystem, containing the people and institutions that affect the child indirectly. The final "ring" is the macrosystem, composed of the attitudes and ideologies of society as a whole. In the model all of the layers surrounding the child interact both with each other and with the child. Bronfenbrenner's ecological model of child development can serve as an effective framework for understanding the impact of health care, homelessness, and violence on children living in poverty, and it can guide for our attempts to improve conditions for children and youth in America.

Under these circumstances school and education are taking a big part in refugees’ lives for example it says, “I know Pink Boy will get me, but right now I feel smart” (Lai 188). This statement from the book “Inside Out and Back Again” represents how Ha is feeling back home again. She gets to go to school and feels smart just like she did back home. Ha is now becoming happier and feels like she is getting her life back. In the same way schooling and education are making refugees feel back again in the article “Refugees: Who, Where, Why” when it says, “Schooling is provided for children” (Gevert). This statement shows how schooling is helping refugees all over feel like they are back home again. They can get educated from the refugee camps. They may be overcrowded, but it is helping many refugees get a chance for there lives back. It helps refugees feel like there is hope on the other side waiting for them. In addition schooling and education is helping refugees when it says, “Getting better because we can go to school… couldn’t… in Croatia because we are muslims” (Lai ). This statement comes from the book “Inside Out and Back Again“ and is representing how Ha is now able to go to school, and doesn’t have to worry about her race. She feels like she belongs where she is now, and nobody can take that away from her. Given these points,

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.

Moreover, whilst refugees manage [attempt] to persevere through their previous hardships, they will continue to face greater complications in their lives such as struggling to merge into their new culture. As suggested in the article "Refugee and Immigrant Children: A Comparison," (71) stated "They share with adolescents the desire to be accepted by their peers. Both groups may experience a role and dependency reversal in which they may function as interpreters and cultural brokers for their parents... Perhaps the greatest threat is not the stress of belonging to two cultures, but belonging to none." In other words, the author implies that like immigrants, refugees can face the dilemma of not being considered a part of their new culture. The

In ecological theory, these systems are nested with the child at the core, embedded within his/her immediate family environment. The system with the closest proximity to the child is the microsystem; this includes the child and family, peers, neighborhood and school. A critical impact on development occurs within the immediate environment of the child due to proximal

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.

Bronfenbrenners main theory is the ecological theory, which was developed in 1979, with the idea of the individual surrounded by 5 different systems, to explain the effect of the environment on children (Williams, n.d.). These complex systems are all interacting, therefore influencing and impacting the childrens lives through behaviours and attitudes (Sincero, 2012). The model is made up of 5 circles with each circle representing a different level, with the individual in the middle. Each level goes further away from the individual, in relation to its contact with the child, Bronfenbrenner (2005, as cited in Claibourne, Drewery, Paki & Chu, 2014) refers to it as “a change in developmental focus from the