What Did Bronfenbrenner Say About Human Development?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Bronfenbrenner saw the process of

human development as being shaped by the interaction between an individual and their environment

. The specific path of development was a result of the influences of a person’s surroundings, such as their parents, friends, school, work, culture, and so on.

What did Urie Bronfenbrenner believe child development?

Key Takeaways. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory views

child development as a complex system of relationships affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment

, from immediate settings of family and school to broad cultural values, laws, and customs.

What was Bronfenbrenner’s view about development?

Definition. The bioecological theory of development was formulated by Urie Bronfenbrenner and posits that human development is

a transactional process in which an individual’s development is influenced by his or her interactions with various aspects and spheres of their environment

.

What is the most important ideas of Urie Bronfenbrenner?

His greatest contribution to the field of developmental psychology was

the ecological systems theory

. At the core of this theory are four systems that shape a child’s development: the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, and the macrosystem. Bronfenbrenner recognized that children do not develop in a vacuum.

How does microsystem affect a child?

The microsystem is where the most direct interactions between the child and the environment take place. In other words, the microsystems have

a direct influence on the child’s development

. The child is also able to create the constructs, or conceptual elements, that exist in the microsystem.

How does Exosystem affect a child?

Unlike the mesosystem and microsystem, the exosystem

influences the child indirectly as it ‘trickles down’ through other individuals that have an influence on the child’s life

. Exosystems can be temporary, like a parent being laid off from their job, or long-term, like the death of an extended family member.

How does Macrosystem affect a child?

Macrosystem — The outermost, “macro” layer of the bio-ecological model encompasses

cultural and societal beliefs, decisions and actions which influence an individual child’s development

. This might include, for example, religious influences or parliamentary legislation.

What is a Mesosystem in child development?

A mesosystem comprises

the interrelations among two or more settings in which the developing person actively participates

. The demands of one setting, such as work, may require so much time and effort that the person is not able to meet expectations in another setting.

What are examples of microsystem?

Microsystem: This refers to a child’s immediate environment, for example,

their family, playgroup, neighbourhood, and peer group

. Meosystem: This refers to the connections children make between their immediate environments, for example, their home and their playgroup.

What is the Mesosystem examples?

The mesosystem is a combination of two or more microsystems. For example,

a child’s mesosystem might be home and the school

. The exosystem is outside of one’s daily activities but may still have an effect on the individual. For example, a parent’s work place is part of a child’s exosystem.

Why is microsystem important?

The microsystem is the

primary system of influence so keeping secure, positive, healthy relationships

will help the child’s development as they begin to feel the effects of the other systems. Like the links in a chain, the mesosystem combines the importance of the impact that the microsystems have on each other.

What is the meaning of microsystem?

The microsystem is

a system of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory that includes the most direct influences on children’s development

. Examples include home environments, such as parents or siblings.

Who is included in a child’s microsystem?

Microsystems include

the child’s family, school, peers, and neighborhood

. Microsystems also include sports and activities, such as karate class or Girl Scouts. The microsystem contains bi-directional relationships. For example, a child is able to actively form social relationships with other children in ballet class.

What are the most important Microsystems in your life?


Family, peers, school, and the community

are all examples of a microsystem. They all have a large impact on the child’s socialization skills. … Just as school and family influence a child, the relationships between the two systems also have a direct impact on the child.

How does the microsystem influence parenting?

The microsystem is

the small, immediate environment the child lives in

. … For example, if a child’s caregivers take an active role in a child’s school, such as going to parent-teacher conferences and watching their child’s soccer games, this will help ensure the child’s overall growth.

What is Exosystem Mesosystem?

Mesosystem: interconnections between the microsystems, such as between the family and teachers or relationship between the child’s peers and the family. Exosystem:

those factors that lie beyond the immediate environment of the child

.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.