Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory “nests” a child in a series of “systems” (drawn as concentric circles) that affect the child. It is one of the major published theories about the dynamic relationships between children, families and communities. This theory suggests that we must be aware and knowledgeable of the contexts children are living in, including past experiences, present experiences and future expectations.
Many others have adjusted and evolved this theory in different ways, and I hope you will too, in response to your own experiences and knowledge.
These are some of the basic concepts in Bronfenbrenner’s theory. We will be returning to his theory throughout the semester.
Each of these systems has roles, norms and rules that shape development.
The child is at the center of the theory. What aspects internal to the child affect the way she is treated or interacts with her family and community? (e.g. what parts of her temperament, a special need etc.)
The first level is the Microsystems: The small, immediate environment of the child. Thi includes any adults children interact with on a regular basis. What would you include her t
Next comes the Mesosystem, which is the interaction between two microsystems. For example, how do parents and schools interact? If a child’s parents are not living together, how do they interact? Can you think of another example of a Mesosystem interaction?
The Exosystem is next. This is external environments–living and working conditions–that directly influence the significant adults in a child’s life. For example, a parent’s workplace. Name two more examples of the exosystem.
The next level is the Macrosystem: The larger socio-cultural context, including values and laws. For example, how do the media messages we receive impact our self-concept and awareness? Circling back to the child, how might that be impacted by a child’s race and/or gender? Describe an example of how representation in media might influence three children differently based on their race or culture.
The final level, added later, is called the Chronosystem. The Chronosystem includes the time/era of history and sociohistorical context. It also includes significant events in a child’s life. For example, how would you describe the current world context? What trends are we seeing across industrialized and developing countries in the world?
