Urie Bronfenbrenner (1917-2005) was a Russian American psychologist. He examined the family, economy, and political structures as influences upon the development of a child into adulthood. This led to his greatest contribution to the field of developmental psychology which was his Ecological Systems Theory. In this theory, there are four systems, that he believed, shaped a child's development: the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, and the macrosystem. |
Break Down of the Ecological System Theory
############################################# Microsystem: The microsystem layer to this theory involves face-to-face interactions with the child's immediate environment. In this layer the child learns that people can affect them and that they are also able to affect other people. (roommates, family, sports teams, etc.) ############################################# Mesosystem: The Mesosystem layer to this theory is the connections that take place between people that are in the child's immediate environment and those that are outside of it. For example the connection between the parents of a student and the students teacher at school. (campus culture, different role obligations) ############################################# Exosystem: The Exosystem layer to this theory includes the influences that impact an individual but doesn't directly pertain to them. This correlates to the social system where the child doesn't function themselves. For example, a parent's work schedule falls into this layer because the child is able to feel the positive or negative interaction that results from the schedule. (school rules, financial aid policies, etc.) | ############################################ Macrosystem: The Macrosystem layer to this theory encompasses the overall contextual beliefs that influence the whole ecological system. (American democracy) ############################################ Chronosystem: The Chronosystem layer to this theory involve the dimention of time relating to the child's environment. This means that as the child gets older, the way they react to the environment is going to change. (age and time) |
#############################################################################################
How They Influenced Me
When I examine my life with the idea of using this theory, I am able to see how and why I have become the way I am today. The microsystem layer in my life would involve my family, my friends, and the teams that I have been on growing up. Without the conversations and the activities that are involved with these people I wouldn't be who I am today. They have each shaped me in a different way. The Mesosystem layer would be school for me. The different roles I have that are revolved around school: such as, being a student, being a part of a team, and being a part of theater. The Exosystem layer in my life would be the face that I was in the musical. Being that practices went for three hours after school, I would come home, eat, and then go to bed. So while I was participating in that, I felt like I was neglecting my parents because I didn't talk or see them as much as I did before the musical. The Macrosystem layer in my life would be the rules and expectations that have been set for me to live by. Finally, the Chronosystem layer in my life would pertain to the idea that my views of my external environment have changed since I was younger.
When I examine my life with the idea of using this theory, I am able to see how and why I have become the way I am today. The microsystem layer in my life would involve my family, my friends, and the teams that I have been on growing up. Without the conversations and the activities that are involved with these people I wouldn't be who I am today. They have each shaped me in a different way. The Mesosystem layer would be school for me. The different roles I have that are revolved around school: such as, being a student, being a part of a team, and being a part of theater. The Exosystem layer in my life would be the face that I was in the musical. Being that practices went for three hours after school, I would come home, eat, and then go to bed. So while I was participating in that, I felt like I was neglecting my parents because I didn't talk or see them as much as I did before the musical. The Macrosystem layer in my life would be the rules and expectations that have been set for me to live by. Finally, the Chronosystem layer in my life would pertain to the idea that my views of my external environment have changed since I was younger.
#############################################################################################
Resources for this Journal:
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/urie-bronfenbrenner-biography-theory-quiz.html
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropoutprevention.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2
Fpaquetteryanwebquest_20091110.pdf&ei=sY_jVOq3FsmXgwTmuYDoDw&usg=AFQjCNG_sJ5yc184HHPGxSBR6i0UdaI-ug
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/urie-bronfenbrenner-biography-theory-quiz.html
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropoutprevention.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2
Fpaquetteryanwebquest_20091110.pdf&ei=sY_jVOq3FsmXgwTmuYDoDw&usg=AFQjCNG_sJ5yc184HHPGxSBR6i0UdaI-ug