Paper Topic:

Urie Bronfenbrenner's Theory of Ecological Development

Running head : Urie Bronfenbrenner 's

Urie Bronfenbrenner 's Ecological Theory of Human

Development

Zack Chaikin

Capella University

Human Development HS 5003

Dr . Pietrzak

4 /18 /2009

Abstract

The work of Urie Bronfenbrenner is called an ecological theory of development a framework to examine the various interactions between the developing child from parental relationships to the environment , social settings , cultural influences and economic factors . There are four levels of environmental influences the micro- , meso- , exo- and macrosystems , each nested within one another representing degrees of intimate

interactions . Change and constancy are mediated by the passage of time , the chronosystem . Athe author 's life events leading up to entering graduate school are illustrated through interactions within the ecological model

Bronfenbrenner 's Ecological Theory of Development

The ecological model designed by Bronfenbrenner was a response to what the creator himself described as the science of the strange behavior of children in strange situations with strange adults for the briefest periods of time (Bronfenbrenner , 1977 ,p .513 ) In time Bronfenbrenner 's efforts helped create a body of research reflecting human development from real-life situations in real-life settings . This will delve deeper into Bronfenbrenner 's ecological theory of development , system by system , how it relates to the authors personal development , specifically those life events leading to entering graduate school for a Masters in counseling

Bronfenbrenner states that human development takes place through interactions between the individual and the environment , defined as persons , objects and symbols in the persons immediate world . These interactions are two-way , that is the individual acts upon the environment and the environment acts on the individual . These events are most effective over long , consistent periods of time Bronfenbrenner terms these most intimate and enduring interactions as proximal processes (Bronfenbrenner , 1993 . An infant cries , the parent responds . These responses are critical with respect with to its duration , frequency , stability (is it interrupted or prolonged intensity and with proper timing (Bronfenbrenner , Evans 2000 . This preposition has been borne out , as consistently high levels of mother-child interaction has resulted in lower incidences of problem behavior in lower-class families (Bronfenbrenner , 1994

Indeed , higher achievement outcomes have been seen in higher-class more stable environments . The author was raised in a middle-class urban neighborhood , an only child (as the child is the epicenter of the ecological model , all the more so , a stay at home m other and a father who came home daily at regular hours . The author was an early reader due to being read to and encouragement to read alone . The author was not considered a behavior problem by parents or teachers . Becoming an early reader also fostered an enjoyment of learning and an enduring sense of curiosity

Based on Lewin 's field theory (Vander Zanden 2007 ,

.54 , the ecological model is designed as a series of nested structures , with the child always at the center . The innermost , the microsystem is essentially comprised of the face to face interactions between the child and his environment . These interactions are prolonged and complex , as befitting...

6 pages

77.0 KB

Free sing-up